16 year old daughter is refusing to have HPV jab...

[CaliforniaDreams]

My eldest DD was too old for the initial round of vaccinations and is now being included in the "catch-up" programme. She is refusing to have the jab as she thinks the vaccination has not been tested enough. She doesn't seem in the least bothered about getting cervical cancer! Obviously I respect her wishes in this respect but want her to be protected. I've been told that she can be included next year when her younger sister is due for the vaccination, but does anyone know how late you can leave it before it becomes less effective? And how can I persuade her to see sense - the Jade Goody argument cuts no ice with her, I'm afraid.

Perhaps she does have an extreme feminist view - maybe she isn't into boys ?

Alsmutko, don't get angry if other people don't make the same choices as you.

Mum in Scotland - I think it is down to fear, but I will try to find out what's going on. It could just be that she is using the term "humorously" (sick I know) without realizing how bad it sounds to others. The opportunity to talk presented itself in the car on the way back from school when she asked me a question, unfortunately all the younger DCs were in the car too so we had to postpone! It looks as though she is willing to talk though, so will try to find a good opportunity soon - we're planning a day out just the two of us in half term so perhaps will broach it then. I did find myself alone with DD2, though, who is due to have the jab next year in Y8, and we both came to the conclusion that it doesn't make sense to receive a vaccination at the age of 12 that will protect her against a virus that she has no intention of exposing herself to for the lifetime of that vaccination. (four years or so?). Instead we would prefer to keep the situation under review, if and when she feels she needs it then we'll get it. I do think it is wrong though for the government simply to foist this thing on ALL young girls when only a minority will actually be in a situation to need it...it's giving out the message that everyone is at it!

Cammelia, no, I wouldn't say she was an extreme feminist but I can see where you are coming from in thinking so...in fact some of her closest friends are male so she does seem to have a better insight than most girls her age into what makes them tick. Perhaps that's why she doesn't want to get too close to any of them?

She is 16 so is old enough to make her on decision on this. She is right it hasn't been tested enough and it does not mean she'll get cervical cancer if she doesn't have the jab,

Have no idea about the relationships aspect...

But I have say regarding getting the Cervarix jab, your daughter seems a lot more well-informed about it than you are, and I'd say she's right. Please don't pressurise her to have it done.

There's a thread on the 'In the News' section about it where you can find more information. It seems that it does not give blanket protection against the HPV virus at all, only against some strains, which MAY lead to cervical cancer. Also it has not been tested long enough, many girls have had severe side-effects including paralysis, and so on.

It was only the death of that poor child Natalie Morton (I understand she had a severe tumour and would probably have died anyway) which made me look into this. My DD is also 16 and was due to have it 3 days ago, but the clinic rang and cancelled (programme suspended) due to the Natalie Morton case.

I am now strongly urging my DD NOT to go ahead with the jab. I have an uneasy feeling the government are experimenting on our daughters. They also decided against the alternative Gardasil vaccination, which protects against more strains of HPV, purely on cost grounds.

PS Not trying to patronise you or anything, just I believe in erring on the side of caution, which in this case is NOT having the injection.

Anyway if a girl is not yet sexually active, then she doesn't actually 'need' it does she? And the decision can be made at a later date.

And when she does start having sex (my DD as well) they will be using condoms, yes?

I think she's being sensible

it's a vaccine, she can have it whenever she wants

as long as she is careful, uses condoms she probably won't need it anyway

and it only lasts 6 years anyway

I agree with your DD and am very glad that I haven't any DDs, I wouldn't be at all happy about it. I think that she is old enough to respect her decision.

Did a lot of research last year when DD2 was supposed to have it. I was told then that condoms do NOT protect against HPV and that it can be transmitted via "intimate contact", not just sex. Also, they don't yet know how long it is effective for so they may need to have topups every 5 years or so.

I refused consent for all the usual reasons (lack of testing etc), but DD1 is part of catch up (she's nearly 16) and is insisting on having it. I'm not happy but I accept it's her body, her choice - though I won't be saying that if she wants a tattoo!

Nadia, I agree entirely and am now round to this way of thinking, for DD2 as well. DH was all for it initially but I found him this morning watching a news report in horror as he realized that the vaccine being used was not the one of choice in several other countries and was adamant that none of our daughters will be having it... his background is in science and he knows all about testing, trials, tolerances, etc. etc. At least we were able to go to DD1 and say "good call!"

Sadly this jab thing is the least of our problems with DD1 at the moment, will probably post sometime over the next few days, have just had a rather enforced "chat" with her (DH insisted, neither of us was ready) but she really does have an issue with relationships in that she is absolutely petrified of getting close to anyone...so it looks as though from that perspective she won't be needing protection against any such viruses for a long time yet. Which ought to be a good thing, if I wasn't so worried that there may be some serious psychological problem at the root of it.