Would you allow your daughter to be given the anti-cervical cancer injection?

Question

This vaccine is controversial because it is designed to be given to girls before they become sexually active, ideally around 12-13 yrs age.
Some critics have argued that vaccinating against HPV might promote sexual promiscuity.

I have a very good friend whose mum recently sadly passed away age 42 from cervical cancer (it was a remission- she lived another 2 years before passing)- her daughter 21 is obviously at high risk too.
I think all women should have the injection- regardless of notions of promiscuity or such moral dilemmas or any medical risks for that matter. For me better- alive and sinning than dead and virgin pure.

If it were available now I'd push my friends' sister to the Doctor right now- tie her up if I had to.

What about you- what are your thoughts?

Sarah- very very sad. Deepest condolences.
Lost my mum to breast cancer.

Jess- sincerely wish you the very best with your recovery love.

Iamhis0- sorry but you're a terrible parent for not giving your kids vaccines. As for the impurities- how much do kids consume as part of normal life anyway?
I can't for the life of me comprehend this kind of stupid mentality.

People would give their arms and kidneys for a chance to vaccinate their kids in the Third World.
Maybe if you ever visit a third world country and see kids in hospital racked with diseases we have vaccines for it may change your mind. I'd be happy to show you about.

Elliott and Onlyme- sincere best wishes for your health.
I put it to the vote- whoever wins- well done.

The risks of illness from a vaccination or its side-effect are MASSIVELY outweighed by the risks of contracting a disease or the side effects of the disease- it is an illogical, emotive argument against being a good parent.
Thousands of mums in the 3rd world would give their right arm to have the luxury of having full immunisation for their kids- just think how lucky you are.

Answer 1

Without a doubt yes, I would have not lost my mum to it (cervical cancer) when I was 3 years old if it was available then. However tell your friends daughter it is not hereditary.

Thank and same to you I think we have all been "touched" by it and that is why I feel so strongly about preventative measures such as this.

Answer 2

The arguments of promoting promiscuity are ludicrous. HPV is the cause of 70% of cervical cancers and the vaccine is effective against the two virus strains that cause most cervical cancers. HPV in some form is present in nearly 80% of the sexually active population. It is therefore essential that the vaccine is administered BEFORE the girl becomes sexually active. It is like saying administering a Rubella injection encourages girls to get pregnant. One reason the vaccine should be administered early is that older women (even late teens) who are already sexually active may assume that the vaccine protects them and fail to have smears.

I was 20 and had had 1 partner, now my husband, when I was first treated for abnormal cells. I have recently been informed that I, once again, have severe changes to the cells. However as I am pregnant I have to wait until next year before these can be investigated. I would not hesitate to vaccinate my daughter.

Answer 3

If it wasn't a mandatory vaccine in my state I would get my daughter vaccinated anyway. There is a high occurrence of cervical cancer in my family and also in my husbands so our daughter is at a high risk for it. My mother and sister both had cervical cancer, now in remission. If you could possible prevent your child from contracting a type of cancer then why wouldn't a parent do this? In fact i am getting the vaccine after talking to my doctor. The cut off age for the vaccine is 26 years old. My daughter will be vaccinated against HPV when shes 11 years old.

Answer 4

I will let my daughter have the vaccination, absolutely. I had a scare a few years ago when I was found to have pre-cancerous cells on my cervix, and my mum had the same thing. If I can protect my daughter from something like that then I will. I don't see how having this injection is going to make girls promiscuous. I find that a bizarre claim personally.

Answer 5

I do not agree that the vaccine promotes promiscuity (and am not really sure whay anyone would think that!) and can see that a vaccine such as that would be helpful... but I will NOT be vaccinating my daughters for cervical cancer. The reason why I am not doing that vaccine is just because it is a new vaccine and I do not feel it has been tested thoroughly for long term side effects.

Answer 6

Ideally 12-13 years old however you can still receive it into your 20's. I would rather my daughter have a chance to live and be promiscuous than more suceptible to a strain (a few strains) that can cause cervicle cancer.

No it doesn't defeat all types of HPV, every parent is told so when they question their doctors regarding it. I would rather rule out most than none at all.

As for sexual promiscuity, that's like saying having condoms at school will promote it..well..what about at the market down the road or the doctors office? They will have sex when they have sex, its' our jobs as parents to ask them to wait and to inform them at the very least how NOT to say "mom I'm pregnant" before it should ever happen.

Answer 7

My answer is-maybe.

I have a daughter that is within the age guidelines for receiving this (although at 9, she is on the younger end of the spectrum). We discussed it with her pediatrician at her well-child checkup, and he agreed with me that it is still too soon to tell what the side effects of this vaccination are.

While I agree that the intent is good, I believe that all of the people pushing for it to be mandatory (many of whom have been paid by the drug's manufacturer) are going too far. I think that more needs to be determined, first. What if we find out that there are side effects from this medication that are not yet known? I do not allow my children to take ANY new medication before I have seen statistics that reassure me of the safety.

It is also important to note that there are many strains of HPV. The vaccine does not protect against all of them. Getting this vaccination does not mean that your daughter will not get cervical cancer. Nor is HPV itself cervical cancer-some STRAINS of the virus COULD cause cancer.

To answer your question again, my daughter (or daughters, since I am currently expecting another one) MIGHT get this vaccination-after we know more about it.

Answer 8

I totally agree with bugaboo. It is a matter of being a responsible parent, and doing it for the sake of your daughter's overall health. If this truly has the ability to prevent cancer, then someone who refuses to give it is in my opinion, a little self righteous and doesn't have their child's best interests at heart.

This vaccine promotes sex no more than condoms and the birth control pill, and kids these days don't have to ask their parents for those items so why not just give the vaccine?

Answer 9

I think girls should get it, but it should not be manditory by any means!! I would not want my daughter to get it at 13, but more like 16-18 or something a bit older.....But then again if you teach your child morals and values then it wouldnt matter if you gave her the shot....also hpv is a std....you get it by having sex and that just increases your likily hood of getting cancer so if you stay a virgin your chance of dying from cervical cancer is less...not outta the picture, but less...but even if my daughter got the shot at such a young age i would not want her sinning in that way!Plus I want to know if their are any long term effects before hand...and right now the drug is in the early stages and they dont know what the long term effects are....they could be worse then the cancer itself!!

Answer 10

In a heartbeat.
Having had cervical cancer myself I don't want any woman to have to go through it if it can be prevented and now thanks to this vaccine it can. My daughters, my nieces and friends daughters will all be getting it.
Checkout www.jotrust.co.uk and go to the lets meet page and you'll see just how cervical cancer affects peoples lives. This is a website dedicated to women and their families offering advice and support for anything to do with pre cancerous changes of the cervix to cancer itself.
There is also lots of information on there on all aspects of this virus and disease

Answer 11

don't be convinced that this vaccine could have saved someone you knew who died of cancer. this vaccine does not prevent cancer in all cases. it prevents most kinds of HPV but not all. it seems from the reading i have done that it mostly helps prevent genital warts and some forms of precancerous cells. but just because a person gets this vaccine does not mean they will never get cervical cancer. especially if the cancer is genetic and not from the sexually transmitted disease.

i also think yes if you give kid this vaccine it might make them think they are invincible. i think kids still need to be taught that it is not a cure all.

i am not sure if i want my kids to get it or not.

i guess i will wait until there is further testing and studies.
luckily my daughter are all still quite young.

and yes a person can be predisposed to cervical cancer through heredity.