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Original poster

Cervical Cancer Immunisation

75 replies

Davros · 04/09/2015 09:29

I could put this in "Health" but thought it might be more appropriate here. DD is just going into Year 8 and we've been sent the consent forms for this immunisation. I'm inclined to say no as her cousin, who is now 18, had a terrible time with it, off school for months with ME type symptoms. Obviously they are related so DD may react similarly or she may be fine. I am a bit Shock at every teenage girl being immunised and it only lasts (can't remember) 20 years? I'm interested in all advice, opinion, experiences

OP posts:
PosterEh · 04/09/2015 09:34

Why is it shocking that every teenage girl be vaccinated against HPV?

titchy · 04/09/2015 09:46

Do you not expect your dd to have sex at some point in the next 20 years then?

Rosieposy4 · 04/09/2015 09:49

The whole point of mass immunisation is that everyone is done!
If you daughter is ever going to have sex then she needs immunising, and there is no point doing after "the horse has bolted".
What evidence do you have that her cousin's ME was caused by the ahapav vaccine, are you merely taking two events related in time and deciding cause and effect?

Rosieposy4 · 04/09/2015 09:50

Bloody spellcheck HPV vaccine

janinlondon · 04/09/2015 09:56

OP I dont think anecdotal evidence is really valid. ME "type" symptoms? A bit vague??. And they may or may not have been related to an immunization. Where is the evidence? I don't think it stacks up against the protection this vaccination would give your daughter. And she can give her own consent if she chooses to.......

Aussiemum78 · 04/09/2015 10:00

There are around 3000 cases of cervical cancer diagnosed each year in the uk. The survival rate is about 70%. So around 900 deaths a year.

1 in 10,000 girls will have a bad reaction to the vaccine. As far as I know, there is no recorded fatalities from the vaccine.

Initial research suggests something like 80% of cervical cancers will be prevented. That's 2400 women every year who won't undergo treatment and 700 who won't die every single year.

Does the math suggest it's worth the risk?

ifonly4 · 04/09/2015 10:09

If you have concerns, maybe it would be worth speaking to the School Nurse or your Doctor to see if they can offer any reassurance before you decide.

My DD was fine by the way (youngest in year and small for her age).

newpup · 04/09/2015 10:21

Hello. My DD is about to go into Year 9 and we decided together not to have the immunisation.

I think that if you feel it is not for your daughter then don't have it. It is not compulsory :-) Don't be bullied into anything.

Original poster
Davros · 04/09/2015 10:22

At the time it was pretty clear that DNieice's illness was connected to the jab. The medical professionals agreed it was and she was advised not to have the third jab (it was in 3 then not 2). As there is a genetic connection I am worried that DD could have the same or similar reaction. I suppose I am Shock because it seems unfair for only gurls to have to take part in a mass public health programme and boys don't although I know that's kind of irrelevant and that's the way it is. Seems unfair for girls to have the mumps vaccination when the illness doesn't cause them a problem.

OP posts:
worldgonecrazy · 04/09/2015 10:26

If your daughter has the jab (and there is no reason why she shouldn't) it is worth stressing that it is not a "cervical cancer vaccine". It is a vaccine which prevents the human papilloma virus which is linked to cervical cancer. Your daughter will still need to have regular smear checks and keep an eye out for signs of cervical cancer. The vaccine just reduces the risk of developing cancer, it doesn't remove it entirely.

In your case, I would seek an honest discussion with your daughter about sexual activity. She is at an age where she is likely to start becoming sexually active and it is important she has the vaccine beforehand. Perhaps you could incorporate it into a general discussion about contraception, sexual consent, sexual health etc.? If your daughter genuinely won't be becoming sexually active for a couple more years, then maybe you would feel more comfortable delaying it and having it given then?

Rosieposy4 · 04/09/2015 10:31

Boys don't have the jab because they don't have a cervix, therefore are not at risk of cervical cancer! There is an argument for vaccinating boys to avoid them being carriers, however the vaccination programme for HPV is hugely expensive and the NHS budget is limited.
Mumps can affect girls as well as boys Hmm the risk of sterility in adolescent males who catch mumps is not the mani reason for the vaccination.

HelloMama · 04/09/2015 10:41

Boys are at risk though, of penile and anal cancers caused by HPV; the latter being more likely (although still rare), if they ever have sex with other men.

Bearing in mind that many young boys may not be aware of the sexuality at school age, there is an argument that boys should be vaccinated too.

Plus as Rosie says above, they can be carriers of the virus. But yes, currently it is a cost saving for the NHS, that they have decided not to include boys in this programme in the UK at this time. However I will be vaccinating my boy privately for this, as current vaccine also protects against genital warts too, which, despite being harmless, can be distressing to an individual who contracts them and has to treat them.

Fluffycloudland77 · 04/09/2015 11:11

I cant believe anyone wouldn't immunise against hpv.

You're so wrong if you think your daughter wont have unprotected sex.

featherandblack · 04/09/2015 11:15

I know very little about this. However, I have heard vaguely that it occasionally sparks an immune response that can be deadly. I have just lost a close relative to this immune response. It wasn't the result of a vaccine this time but the disorder is utterly deadly and devastating. I would think long and hard.

featherandblack · 04/09/2015 11:16

And I've never had unprotected sex (except while TTC). Ever. It's perfectly possible.

Fluffycloudland77 · 04/09/2015 11:36

The HPV totally knows when it's ttc sex and not slutty shagging around sex and will not infect you with a virus that might cause cervical cancer.

This is a tru fact.

Hmm

I wonder how many women who died of cervical cancer would have immunised their little girls given the chance.

featherandblack · 04/09/2015 11:44

Spectacularly missing the point, fluffy. My partner had never had unprotected sex either. Your last point glosses over the very real fears about the safety of some of these vaccines.

Fluffycloudland77 · 04/09/2015 11:55

That's such a repeatable situation for your daughter, isn't it?. I'm sure it will pan out like that for her too.

Funny how it's never Hep B vaccines on here being discussed, or tetanus.

I've had more vaccines in the last 19 years than most of you and yet here I am. Still alive.

Hep A
Hep B
Booster for polio and dip
Tetanus
Meningitis
Flu jab every year.

Tin foil is only used for preservation of food in this house though.

Millymollymama · 04/09/2015 11:55

Why is it when we get a fabulous new development in preventative medicine, people have to say it is unsafe? We have had this debate over so many vaccinations in the past. I would get my DDs done in a jiffy. There are no real fears over safety. There is debate and hearsay. No medical practicioner ever says not to immunise. Just get on with it and be grateful it is available!

featherandblack · 04/09/2015 12:04

It depends what you call safe milly. There are undoubtedly people whose lives have been destroyed by vaccines and no one disputes that. The significance of it, with the numbers so small, has to be a personal decision. Not every vaccine is equal, either. Were you aware that the polio vaccine has now found to have mutated into the old version in people with immune problems?

ThenLaterWhenItGotDark · 04/09/2015 12:05

I think the reason people don't want to vaccinate their children is that they simply cannot bear being told, y'know, that something is good for them.
Have you asked your daughter if she'd prefer to run the minute risk of 'ME like symptons' or the slightly higher risk of death from cancer, probably while still in her 30s?

featherandblack · 04/09/2015 12:05

fluffy Yes it is repeatable for my DD.

Original poster
Davros · 04/09/2015 12:06

If you read my first post you would see that there are some grounds for concern in our case. No I
Minus still is 100% safe and it seems that my family might have grounds for concern. I have not yet made up my mi d, just wanted some other opinion and advice.
I do know that boys do not have a cervix Hmm but, as usual, it is the female part of the popstion that is expected to take responsibility

OP posts:
NotMrsTumble · 04/09/2015 12:09

All other worries aside, it's worth checking if it's even the same vaccine that's being offered. AFAIK the UK recently switched from one to the other. I know because dd got her first dose last year, and if it hadn't been the newer vaccine (which protects against more strains of hpv) I would have refused the school vaccination and got her the wider spectrum one privately.

NotMrsTumble · 04/09/2015 12:10

And incidentally I hope to have both dss vaccinated - as it also offers protection against some throat cancers.