Lynni

I'm not trying to start a debate. I learned something yesterday that I thought I'd pass along.
The HPV vaccine only protects you from 5 strands of HPV and there are over 50 strands of the virus. However, the 5 it protects from are the most deadly. I also found out that vaccine is still effective for woman over the age of 25. It just isn't covered by insurance. Over 80% of adults have HPV. They don't know if HPV causes cervical cancer, but they do know that all cervical cancer has HPV.

It gave me a lot of think about. I'm still not sure what I'd do if I had a daughter or what, if anything, I'll do for myself. I just found the information interesting.

JenR

That is really interesting..... it's crazy that that many people have it!

KeriKadi

Not debating either

The reason they don't suggest it to women over 25 is because it is assumed that women that age have already been exposed to HPV. Once you are exposed the vaccination is useless (assuming it wasn't useless to begin with). It would be like getting the chicken pox vaccine after you already had full blown chicken pox. They are trying to get girls the vaccine BEFORE they are sexually active. If a girl had sex with a boy at say 15 years old and he had been exposed to HPV and then exposes her then the vaccine is null.

Everyone here knows how I feel about vaccines. However, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE look at ALL sides before getting this vaccine for your daughters. Or your SONS for that matter (Yes, the pharmaceutical companies now want to vax BOYS for this as well).

Lynni

I asked about this Keri. I was told that the vaccine isn't 100% null. One can get more then one strand of HPV. The protection would then be against the other 4 strands.

Mcheer

LOL

Mcheer

I have yet to really research it...but I do know that there is a Mass-VAX in Canada right now with HS kids

Vanesa

I don't have and opinion either. I didn't read much about it. A couple of month ago (maybe 4 o 6 months) was a huge controversy here in TX because they made this vax mandatory.

KeriKadi

That was quickly overturned. This vax is NOT madnatory in TX or any other state.

dbn13

If it became mandatory, I wouldn't have a problem with it. It's like the flu vaccine - it won't protect against all strains either. I'm glad I don't have any daughters now - this vaccine is so new - they have no idea what the long term affects might be IMHO. But I'm pro-vaccination, so when and if I'm faced with the decision for my little ones, I'll definitely do my research and look into it.

Bensmom

I have mixed feelings about this, I guess depending on where the arguements are coming from. Opposing it on the basis of being generally opposed to the idea of vaccination- I totally get that. Opposing it based on needing more research- I get that too. However, I think this particular vaccination got ALOT of extra attention from certain groups because it involved the idea of teens having sex (gasp!) and even worse teenage girls having sex (double gasp!) Having worked with pregnant and parenting teens and accompanied more than one 13 or 14 year old to the gyn to get precancerous cells removed from her cervix it is a very really issue to me. I'm not convinced this is the best answer- actually I know it's not, I would much rather see 13 and 14 years not having sex and a much better educational program on safer sex practices for teens in this country. But, that doens't seem to be in the forecast either so I do appreciate other alternatives.