Do you think it is ok for the Gov't to tell you that your child at the age 11 must get the HPV Shot?

Question

As a parent of a little girl, I don't think it is right for the government to tell me that my daughter must get a shot at the age of 11. This forces myself and other parents to talk to their child about sex if the kids/parents are ready or not. I think that the shot should be available to the public but not forced upon us. I don't understand why Rick Perry made the decision to tell me what is best for my daughter. I can go on about this, but I would like to know other opions about this decision..

Answer 1

What's the difference about getting this and any other vaccine like Polio, Hepatitis, etc?

Answer 2

The government is not requiring you to force your child into getting the new Gardasil shot. Most doctors believe it is wise for young girls to get the shot in order to protect them against this very harmful virus later on in their lives. This does not force you to explain the ways of sex to your child though. It all depends on how you approach the matter. You could simply get the vaccine when you take your daughter in for her other vaccinations. From what I've asked my gynecologist, many pediatricians carry the vaccine, so it wouldn't be necessary for you to take your daughter to a GYN. Like I said before though, the shot is not required. You may do as you wish with your child. Once she becomes 18, she can make her own decisions but for now you're still in control of how she lives her daily life, well to a certain degree. It would be wise to talk to your daughter sometime soon about sex. I don't mean full on details but just lightly explain to her what it is. Also tell her that she should wait until she is older and feels completely comfortable with the decision. I know a lot of girls really do listen to their mother's during times like these. Many schools begin teaching sex education around the age of 11 or 12. This happened to me, my brothers and sisters. I'm not sure, but I do think high schools are required to teach it during health classes though. But you still have time until that day comes.

Answer 3

Unfortunately I'm afraid that the HPV vaccine will become another MMR. Not because it's enforced to take, but rather that the virus is so widespread.

I don't think it's right that the vaccine was developed (and enforced now) for females though... MEN are the main carriers of the virus because they exhibit no symptoms (unless it's the wart-causing kind), and cannot be tested for it as I hear, but don't quote me on that. It's sexually discriminatory because it labels girls as the "unclean" ones.

I heard this on NPR tonight and I nearly flipped out, mostly because the shots are so expensive! But then I figure, it's either 300$ for the vaccine now, or 1000s of dollars towards treatment of cervical cancer later. Personally I probably wouldn't have gotten the vaccine, though it's a bit late now since I've had HPV.

As far as talking to your daughter about sex this early on, I say the earlier the better. Better she hear it from you than from kids at school. As the child of parents who put off the s-e-x talk five years after I asked them what a condom was, I say get to her before her friends do.

-edit- And by the way, I am completely against the stance of religious groups who refuse to get their children vaccinated because it is against their (i.e., the PARENTS') beliefs... Let me tell you, I know more children from devout Christian families with STDs than children from agnostic/atheistic households because they were not properly educated in their youth. Parents put too much faith in their children to follow in their footsteps and wait until marriage... Sorry. This just doesn't happen very often anymore. These parents are putting their children at risk and compromising their health for their, the parents', own beliefs,

Answer 4

Well first off I don't think this will make you have to talk to your daughter about sex if you aren't ready to but we have to come the reality that many kids this age have more knowledge about sex then what we think, but if you don't tell her that one way of getting this cancer if from sex she will more then likely think it is just another vaccination that she has to have. I got pre-cancer cells at a very young age and had to have two surgery's on my cervix and it made it hard for me to carry both my children and I was put on bed rest and prayed everyday that I won't have my kids to early. I have a daughter that is going to have this shot when she is 11 because I want to protect her from this I would prefer that she be able to receive the shot then to have to have a hysterectomy and not be able to have children. I don't really think this shot is any different then any other shot that we have to give our children. Just think of the benefits from this I mean look on the good side that we have come far enough to prevent some forms of cervical cancer that is a wonderful thing for all women. I really hope that this is a break through to find more possible cures for cancer.

Answer 5

I agree that the government is becoming too intrusive. I also believe that Guardasil will save the lives of thousands of women. I think that parents should electively choose to vaccinate their girls while providing the necessary guidance regarding sex. However, most parents are not taking the initiative or the responisibility of being parents. They are leaving sex education to the schools. Until parents start acting like parents, then I'm afraid that the government will continue to act as the parental figure. Now that's scary.

We need to start speaking up about this and many other issues. A good start would be to yank our kids out of government schools.

Answer 6

Look, i don't see what the big deal is, really. I have two young kids of my own (son 5, daughter 3) and i know I've always given my kids all their immunizations that they needed. Why is this shot any different? if you feel uncomfortable talking to your daughter at the age of 11 about sex, that's understandable. Wait until she's ready for "the talk", but get her the HPV shot before she gets this virus. Wouldn't you do anything to protect your daughter from possibly getting cervical cancer? i know i would...but that's just me.

Answer 7

This vaccine is just like other vaccines given to kids and will prob. soon be added to the list of required vaccines for school attendence. you do not need to tell your child about sex yet if you do not wish to...although at age 11 she probably knows more than you think she does. it is simply a vaccine to prevent a deadly disease...what is so difficult about that? You got her baby shots for her and her polio vaccine, didn't you.?..what is the difference with this one? Finally women have a vaccine to help prevent CANCER in their daughters...and they are using it as an ocasion to make political protests! Ridiculous. Just tell her it is a vaccine to help prevent disease when she is older. If a an AIDS vaccine were ever to become available would you be against that too? When I was a kid polio was the big killer and crippler of kids. When the vaccine came out, people couldn't wait to get their child vaccinated. it saved thousands of lives.

Answer 8

I've read alot on HPV and one of my closest friends recently told me she gets genital warts from time to time that has to be lasered off due to her having one of the strains of HPV. I'm glad there is a shot that can prevent HPV which can assist in preventing cervical cancer. However, I definitely agree w/ you. Once you and your child are comfortable and ready to discuss sex, then you determine if the shot is needed. Some kids make promises to themselves that they won't have sex until they are married. Did Rick Perry address that b/c if a young woman chooses to be abstinent completely ( no oral, no nothing) then why would they need the shot? The shot is good but Rick has no place in determining what's best for other people's children when it comes to sex.

Answer 9

I have a little girl and to be honest... No I don't think that anybody should tell me what we should or should not do with our children. However, I am also in the medical profession and have seen first hand how devastating cervical cancer can be. According to the CDC, 20 million people men and women have HPV. So if one more little shot will protect my baby from being another stat, then sure I'm for it, and I'll sign myself up.

Answer 10

If you're in the US I don't think you must get the shot for your daughter. If you can opt out of the MMR and DPT you can probably opt out of this one too. I think it's doing your daughter a huge favor getting it but the only reason I might wait on it is because the vaccine is new, I'd wait until it's been out awhile to see the long term side effects and efficacy of the vaccine.

I certainly hope your daughter knows about sex by 11. Well certainly she'll know something about it from her friends, but it's better if it comes from you.

Answer 11

You should NOT be FORCED to give your daughter a birth control shot. You should however be discussing the topic of sex around 11 or so, you don't have to go into detail or get graphic. Just let your daughter know she can come to you w/ any questions & that it is too young for her to have sex, but if she is considering it, she needs to talk to you and use a condom.