New vaccination against cervical cancer for girls - what are general thoughts on it.

[mears]

I am not sure.

My 14 year ols DD will be offered it soon but there has never been cervical cancer in our family and I am sure, like me she will have regular screening.

You worry about what vaccinations can do to the rest of your system to some extent.

Any thoughts?

But a lot of that will be runour.

There are always 4th year pregnancies though.

I would like my DDs vaccinated, having had some nasty complications from the cryotherapy used to rid me of CIN II.

Yes, we had a lot of rumour about sex as 14-year-olds.

But it does happen, unfortunately.

I think it is a matter of weighing up the risks and then taking a decision.

It is not easy to make the decision and there were similar issues on the MMR. So take that one people avoided using the MMR and now there is an issue with Measles in the UK.

Thing is you wouldn't necesarily think that is a potential outcome when you make the decision not to give MMR or the measles vaccine.

I think the good news is that you have the choice - although it is not an easy decision to make.

You can normally google the clinical trials to access the info on the vaccines.

I wasn't aware that being sexually active meant you couldn't have the vaccine. After all women already actively infected with HPV have been trialed and gained good protection. Will look into that one, hadn't heard that anywhere...

As`far as I know sexually active girls will not be refused the vaccine, they will get the vaccine within the next few years as part of the rolling catch-up programme.

Our PCT is doing a staggered programme so that all school aged girls between 12 and 16 will be offered the vaccine.

Our practice nurse told me that the virus is transferable digitally - which apparently means through hands.

Lucky it doesn't mean through the computer!

My DD will be having it, although she's not actually born until next month!

I had problems 4 years ago with pre-cancerous cells and had a big chunk of my cervix removed. It's not like a dodgy mole, or lump in your breast that you can see / feel. The cells can play havoc without you realising and you might not catch them until they are causing you problems. Better to be vaccinated to minimise the risk I think.

I rather hoped you could use a remote to turn it off!

I think you're right meglet.

The question is do you want your daughter to have a significantly reduced risk of getting cervical cancer or precancer? Erm, yes. It's a no brainer. Only wish it was possible to vaccinate against the causes of other sorts of cancer e.g. breast.

It seems to me that most opposition is coming from ignorance, fear of risks of vaccination (always minimal and outweighed by the advantages) and some misplaced relgious or other outrage that young girls or unmarried women might be sexually active. Misplaced because many are and if they're not (for moral or any other relgion) then it will make no difference until they are (when even if they have sex with only the man they marry that man might be a carrier of HPV).

From Picthounette, 'If there is one vaccine we do not need it's this one '

Well actually since the vaccination will prevent the majortiy of cases of cervical cancer and pre-cancer which is still a major killer of women worlwide this is a pretty stupid and dangerous statement to make.

My daughter will be having it, even if I have to pay for it.
My cousin had cervical cancer which spread, and at NINETEEN she had to have a hysterectomy

fivecandles
only "minimal and outweighed by the advantages" if you are in the group who do not have an adverse reaction.

Vaccine damage may be rare but it does occur and parents are allowed to factor this in to their judgement.
Especially as wary parents are often those who have had a non typical reaction to a previous vaccine within their close family.

No, it is a fact that risks of serious adverse effects of vaccinations are minimal.

That's not the same as undermining the seriousness of those cases where there is an adverse reaction.

All medical intervention carries risks - taking any form of drug or surgery.

Personally, I would not refuse any sort of medical intervention where the risks are minimal, and there are very clear advantages - in terms of reducing the risk of a serious and possibly terminal disease for myself or my dds.

sure fivecandles .
not trying to be arguementative.
But just making the point that parents worrying about possibility of adverse reactions often have a history that has given them reason to question IYSWIM.
My mother had mild reaction to a jab as a child. I developed an odd scar at the site of one of mine. one of my nieces had a fit after a jab.All before my DS's catastrophic reaction.
These kind of histories can make parents pause even whilst recognising how rare a serious problem is.

I get that these are safe for most people but equally many of my extended family have serious concerns about vaccination. And "vaccine damage is rare" is little comfort when it is your child and the issues with vaccines are intertwinned with your raltives.
thats all I was trying to say.

This may be the safest vaccine ever but my extended family will worry and my DD probably won't get it

Understand your points Pagwatch BUT how would you feel if your dd went on to get cervical cancer or pre cancer surely much more likely (and more of a worry) than an adverse reaction??

Obviously you will have your own response and your own reasons for this response, it's just such a huge responsibility to refuse a vaccination on behalf of your child if it's against medical advice and as a result you DO put your child at increased risk of a serious illness which is still a major killer.

There will always be lots more women out there who have suffered the consequences of cervical cancer and pre cancer (myself included) than will suffer as a result of the vaccination for it.

I do wonder how those parents must feel who refused the MMR because of a perceived risk whose children went on to contract Measles and suffered 'adverse consequences' from that.

I obviously don't know.
And to be honest the fact that you would ask that question shows me how far apart on this issue we are.
maybe it would be feel similar to how I felt when i got my gorgeous little DS2 vaccinated and he was left with profound and severe diasbilities.
there is no perfect choice. we all just do the best we can for our children.

and wrapping these issues up in guilt helps absoloutely no one.

Not trying to make you feel guilty and obviously very sorry to hear about your ds2. As you say, we all weigh up the risks in the best way we can balancing what is presented to us by 'experts' with our own experience, instincts and knowledge of our children.

I HAVE JUST HAD THE LETTER FROM SCHOOL SAYING MY DAUGHTER WILL BE ABLE TO HAVE THE JABS IN SEPTEMBER WHEN THEY RETURN TO SCHOOL (SHE WILL BE 13). I HAVE SIGNED TO SAY YES AS I FEEL SURE THIS IS THE RIGHT WAY TO GO, I DO GET NERVOUS ABOUT SIDE AFFECTS BUT THE THOUGHT OF HER GETTING CERVICAL CANCER WOULD BE MUCH WORSE.

I wouldn't give it to my daughters if/when i have any. It only protects against 2 strains of HPV - there are many (hundreds?) more that can also go on to develop into cancer. It DOES NOT mean you are protected against cervical cancer. Catching HPV does not mean you will get cervical cancer - there is a v small percent of HPV sufferers who will go on to develop cancer. I worry that this vaccine gives a false sense of security (I've been vaccinated therefore I'm safe - type attitude). I would prefer regular screening and promoting safe sex over a vaccine. There are safety concerns over the vaccine too iirc.

SHESME, dd has had them this year, they are staggered and she had little in the way of side effects - last one she complained of a sore arm but I think that was more to do with the way the injection was given. Lots of the girls had it, a couple felt dizzy afterwards due to being a bit needle phobic but I think some of that may have been attention grabbing behaviour!!!

I would want to see a list of the ingredients before giving this to my children who knows what they might be allergic to, also I would have concerns over any bovine and human material they may contain. No harm in writing to the vaccine manufacturer if they have nothing to hide I am sure they will send you details, doctors generally do not give ingredient information.

I wasn't sure about my DDs having the jab after hearing about possible side effects but then I found out I had abnormal cells and have had quite a bit of treatment. Still not had an all clear yet but hoping I will in Aug.

I would never want my DDs to go through what I have so I am def going to make my DDs have the jab.

On wWdnesday (this week) my sisters best friend died from cervical cancer aged just 25

what a shame this wasnt avaliable 10 years ago, or else she may well be alive and living her life now.... as opposed to being in a mortuary awaiting her cremation this week