Gardasil Vaccine? PLEASE HELP?

Question

Today, we got a letter for our parents about Garadasil and how the grade 8 females are getting the vaccine. I am so confused i don't understand. I know it can prevent you from HPV (which is spreak when having unprotected sex)
But what are the advantages and disadvantages of this vaccine?
Please tell me anything you know
Thanks

Answer 1

There an no real disadvantages to getting this vaccine. It is used to help protect females from contracting the strains of the virus (Types 6, 11, 16, and 18) that will and can cause cervical cancer. It doesn't protect from contracting some HPV strains (like a wart on the finger or hand or face, etc), as I stated, only the strains that will give your cervical cancer or genital warts.

Check out their website to learn more http://www.gardasil.com/

Answer 2

I've done research on this drug. As of now, they don't know how long it will actually last. You might need boosters in the future. It isn't guaranteed to last for life despite what the ads might promote. Consider that while this might be free, in time they might find that you need boosters and you'd have to pay for those. Already you need three doses of it. It's a quadravalent vaccine. That means it has 4 vaccines in it against HPV despite the fact that there are over a hundred strains of HPV and at least 30 that cause genital warts or cervical cancer. They tried to get the main ones that cause disease in the vaccination but since there are 4 in there you need the three shots, possibly more in the future, because the more viruses you are immunized against in one shot, the less likely it is that they each will work. There was even a recent study that showed that the vaccination might not be totally effective in most girls. Do some research on it. Remember that it won't prevent all cases of cervical cancer or herpes. Remember that it might not be a vaccine that lasts your whole life. In one trial, Gardasil showed only a 14% rate in lowering precancerous lesions. Merck even admits that Gardasil “may not fully protect” those who get the vaccine... so don't assume you're safe for life. Also, we don't know how this drug will effect women when it comes to getting pregnant or having a child. While that's not really the point of the vaccine, if you look at many drugs out there, almost all of them have warnings for pregnant women.

Answer 3

I know a few disadvantages for you. The Gardasil vaccine has only been tested for 3 years! The long-term side effects are unknown. Who knows? All of the girls and young women who have had the vaccine could end up sterile and unable to have their own children in a few years from now which is very sad if they really want their own kids. The second disadvantage is that they hurt really bad. I've never had the shot myself and I do not plan on getting it but from what I've heard they hurt a lot. The third disadvantage is that Gardasil does NOT protect against all strains of HPV. Best of luck!

Answer 4

First off, you should discuss your concerns with an adult. If you're not comfortable talking about this with your parents, maybe talk to a teacher, guidance counselor, sports coach, etc. If they don't know, they should be able to easily find the information for you.

Advantages of the Vaccine - Prevents you from getting HPV.
HPV is, well, genital warts. People infected with HPV don't necessarily have the warts - some do, some don't. However, women who have contracted HPV have a much larger chance of developing cervical cancer. If you don't catch HPV, good chance you won't get cervical cancer.

Disadvantages of the Vaccine - It doesn't protect you from any other STDs. Does nothing to protect you from HIV, AIDS, Herpes, or any others.

Some people say the vaccine's ingredients are potentially harmful. I haven't seen any research to suggest it could harm someone. The vaccine has passed both the drug company's and the US government's safety tests. However, many other drugs have been approved by the FDA and later found to be unsafe.

Answer 5

Apparently this vaccine has proven 97% effective in protecting women from forms of HPV that cause most cervical cancers.
This new breakthrough vaccine Garadasil protects against 4 different HPV virus types,The vaccine is given by injection 3 times over a three month period.
Geradasil is believed to prevent cervical cancer, vaginal cancer, precancerous lesions and genital warts – all caused by the HPV viruses.

Advantages: it can protect your daughter from HPV virus; which is the second cancer that causes high death rates in US.
Disadvantages: some females can have a bad reaction to this; such as fainting, itching, etc. there were two cases where two women died; but usually after you get the vaccine, the doctors make you wait inside the clinic for 10 min. to see anything happens, then you can go; and come back for the two other phases! But remember, these are very rare.

it can prevent someone from having a type of cancer!

Answer 6

Gardasil may or may not reduce the risk of developing cancer from the two most dangerous types of HPV (type 16 and 18), and you can get HPV from having unprotected sex, protected sex, sexual play, and in some cases orally. Most types of HPV clear on their own but there are some that may cause cancer usually in women who are approaching the age of 30. Disadvantages are it may not fully protect everyone and does not prevent all types of cervical cancer, and it is given as 3 injections over 6 months and can cause pain, swelling, itching, and redness at the injection site, fever, nausea, and dizziness.

Answer 7

First of all you CAN ABSOLUTELY GET HPV FROM SEX EVEN WHEN A CONDOM IS USED.... Unlike most other STD's it isn't just about fluids ( semen, vaginal secretions) it is about skin to skin contact with an infected person so a contact obviously does not prevent a man' scrotum from coming into contact with your vulva...
As for the person who posted above, I can say this.... we DO know the long term effects of having HPV and cervical cancer and many women have died and are maimed and mutilated every year in this country due to this disease. So if I had the chance I would take my chances with the vaccine.
BTW you need only ever have sex one time to get HPV ( and that could be on your wedding night ) and men don't oftenhave symptoms and never have any idea they have it and are spreading it to the women they infect. Most women don't know they have it and continue to spread it to men as well and so on.... Condoms help reduce the risk, but like I said, they certainly do not eliminate it.

Answer 8

Well the advantage is it helps prevent Cervical cancer and the disadvantage would be that its a new drug on the market, so the long term affects of the drug are unknown. They tell you the drugs are "safe," but I know from my own experience with new drugs that it is not the case. One drug I was forced to take is now black labeled by the FDA as being dangerous for kids and the other is off the market because it could kill children.

Answer 9

Gardasil works by preventing you from getting HPV which often goes unnoticed in women. This disease causes cervical cancer in women. The vaccine thus prevents the cervical cancer's main cause, although spontaneous mutation could still cause any sort of cancer, the virus the typically causes the cancer would be eliminated.

Answer 10

IMO We do NOT know enough about this vaccine regarding the LONG TERM affects to make me feel comfortable about anyone getting this shot.

It does not protect against all cervical cancers and there are no long term studies done regarding this vaccine.

I personally would wait a long time and get more feedback on this shot.