NBR: HPV vaccine

jeapplegate

laurelannie:

EMLYNNLERETTE:

laurelannie:

Teenagers rarely are great at grasping the consequences of their actions, so I think it is laughable that you think vaccinating your kid against a virus that could one day possibly cause cancer would even pop into a kid's mind in their internal debate about whether or not to protect themselves during sexual activity. So yes, I'll vaccinate them, they probably won't even understand at the age of 10 or 11 what HPV is, or why their need to be vaccinated against it is any different than every other l

Sorry I cut off the end of what I wanted to quote, but the main point is there... I really strongly disagree with this. I had sex when I was 13 and used birth control as well as condoms. I took the time to educate myself about my sexuality because it WAS important to me. I was fortunate enough to have adults in my life not my irresponsible parents who were willing to educate me instead of pawning me off as too immature, to put it nicely, to understand the consequences. I knew that sex could mean a death sentence if I was not careful. I plan to advocate for my daughter, not make choices for her thinking she is incapable when she is out making serious choices already.

I would like to respond to a few things about this. Impulse control is hard for teenagers, for a very good reason, they're brains are still developing. I'm not trying to belittle any young person by saying this, I'm just stating a fact, a fact we see proven over and over again unfortunately in the news and I'm sure in personal experience. While we all want our kids to be smart and decide to get vaccinated before having sex, the truth is that some of us, even with the best intentions and plans, will have teenagers who make the mistake of having unprotected sex, even just once, before getting vaccinated (the ONLY way to prevent HPV, because condoms and birth control don't prevent it).
I was also very cautious as a teen, up until a point, and then I let loose, it wasn't wise, it wasn't in line with the rest of my life, but there it is. This of course influences my decision. I want to believe I will be better at educating my girls than my parents were, but I also can remember how reckless I was for a short period of time, despite my parent's best efforts to keep my grounded. Kids are individual, they are their own person, we can try our best but it's no guarantee, I think almost all teenagers assert their independence in one way or another, and for a good portion of them, they assert that with their bodies, unfortunately.

I plan on getting my daughters vaccinated well before they would be sexually active, so I'm not making any choices for her, I'm simply following the same recommended vaccine schedule that I have followed with every other vaccine. The manner in which this virus is transmitted means nothing to me in that regard, it's a virus, I can prevent it, my pediatrician and family doctor all recommend it, so that's where my decision comes from. I say they won't know because really, I don't think they'll care to know at that point. It's not to hide it from them, it's because the information isn't relevant yet.

I do plan on fully educating my girls about sex with every fiber of my being, because I made some wrong choices, and I hope they listen, but I think banking on my own parenting as foolproof to the point that I don't vaccinate them before it's even a possibility is foolish.

This is perfectly said.  I wish I could print this out and use it as an education brochure.

EMLYNNLERETTE

You all realize this vaccine has only been available for a few years right? That side effects are still being revealed? I shudder with how easily the judgement is being thrown around for choosing to pass on an optional vaccine but hardly anything has been said in regards to it potentially having other risks. I simply said I was not going to vaccinate DD for HPV and that she could make that choice on her own. I didn't ever say I was opposed to her getting it either. That does not make anyone an inferior parent.

myglow

Yes I got it. Yes my children will get it. Even if it did promote promiscuity... Ridiculous... I wouldn't punish them with the risk of cancer.

EMLYNNLERETTE

laurelannie:

EMLYNNLERETTE:

You all realize this vaccine has only been available for a few years right? That side effects are still being revealed? I shudder with how easily the judgement is being thrown around for choosing to pass on an optional vaccine but hardly anything has been said in regards to it potentially having other risks. I simply said I was not going to vaccinate DD for HPV and that she could make that choice on her own. I didn't ever say I was opposed to her getting it either. That does not make anyone an inferior parent.

If that's your reason for not using the vaccine, then that's fine, and valid, it is a new vaccine. But that never came up in your original post, or your response to my post. I addressed the comments you made to me about my response to the OP.

 

I had no idea in my original post that the following conversations would stem from what I had to say. I was answering the question from the OPs post. I really don't care what everyone else plans to do with their vaccination schedules, I can only do what I think is right for my life and my kids. I just think it stinks when everyone thinks their choices and opinions are the only right ones. I thought my feelings were pretty open minded... But anyhoo, you are still my thunder buddy right?

shellyco

The fastest growing head and neck cancer is throat cancer from HPV. When I did my internship as an SLP at a hospital almost 50 of head and neck cancer was caused by HPV. More than 50 of men and women will get some strain of HPV in their life.

Have both sexes get the vaccine. Throat cancer is IMO the worst of them all, and of course nobody wants an STD.

Eta: darn mobile took out per.cent marks and then took out the whole word too. Wtf bumpmobile!

FYI most of my patients with oral cancer caused by hpv were happily married men in their fifties and sixties.