Parents Balk at Idea of STD Vaccine for Kids (Against HPV, the cause of cervical cancer)

Newhouse News Service ^ | 4/8/05 | Ed Silverman

[jalisco555]

Cervical cancer is tied with breast cancer as the leading cause of cancer death among women worldwide. The same was true in this country prior to the advent of mass Pap smear screening. The effort to prevent cervical cancer in this country is both enormously expensive and causes an incredible amount of distress in women. HPV vaccination will be an enormous advance in women's health and I hope the clinical trials now ongoing bear out their early promise. I understand the objections some might have against this but I really hope most people will see the value in this vaccine.

[sittnick]

Here in Illinois, they were forcing the Hep-B vaccine on infants and colons were separating. The new one seems to work better, but for many of us, the vaccine pushers are not reasonable. I personally find the "Oh, we will have to educate them until they see things our way" to be unAmerican and condescending.

We will be homeschooling; and no, my children will not be getting that vaccine.

[GeekDejure]

Just three words: SideEffects? -- SideEffects?? -- SideEffects???

Naaahhhh... misplaced fear !!!

[R. Scott]

But they are having SEX! It serves them right to die of cancer!< /extreme sarcasm>

Vaccinating children for a disease caused by sexual activity may be a tough sell, especially among parents who fear children will take it as a green light to have sex.

Fear will not stop many from having sex, particularly among young teens. They (as did I) believe they are invulnerable. Instilling a sense of right and wrong, educating about the personal and social consequences of premarital and extra material sex will work far better than trying to instill a fear of sex.
The sex drive is one of the strongest ones we have, right up there with the desire to eat and sleep – particularly with teenagers. It can be overcome, but nothing will guarantee 100% abstinence. Do these parents really want to take a chance on their daughters contracting a cancer?

[jalisco555]

No serious side-effects in the trials reported so far.

[FormerNavyBrat]

"I don't think we'd require the schools to mandate something like this," said Eddy Bresnitz, deputy commissioner of New Jersey's Department of Health and Senior Services. "I'm sure the battle will be huge, and I'm not sure it's a battle we should be fighting."

Bingo. I have no issue with drug manufacturers developing this sort of vaccine, I do, however, with it being required for admission to school.

[jalisco555]

I was vaccinated against Hep-B 20 years ago and for all I know the vaccine saved my life. IMHO everyone should have it. I just wish they would hurry up and come up with a vaccine against Hepatitis C. Being in health care, I'm a whole lot more afraid of that than I am of AIDS.

[jalisco555]

I do, however, with it being required for admission to school.

I'm a little uncomfortable with that as well, although I'm a firm proponent of vaccination in general.

[republicangel]

There would only be a money savings if they quit requiring PAP smears constantly.

[jalisco555]

There would only be a money savings if they quit requiring PAP smears constantly.

Because of the very large number of women already infected it will take a long time for this to happen.

[NonValueAdded]

Holy Vioxx, Batman, that is encouraging :P _</sarcasm>

That would be my worry and only reason for holding off for a while, like a couple of years. It is going to be a tough choice for parents with girls 12-16.

[heartwood]

My 13 year old daughter refused to have the hepatitis vaccine on religious and moral grounds.

I told her that while hepatits is mostly a junkie disease a virgin could acquire HPV on her wedding night from a husband who had had one previous sexual encounter.

But if the state schools come up with an HPV immunization requirement to prevent their little darlings from infection on the premises that will be going too far.

[Nataku X]

If you get a vaccine, does that mean you won't have to get a pap smear anymore?

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

I understand the objections some might have against this but I really hope most people will see the value in this vaccine.

I see great value in it but question why they want to mandate when it is given rather then let the parent or even child decide.

It is not as if it spreads through casual contact. And I am rather opposed to any mandatory medical treatment except in cases of national emergency.

You remove the mandatory part and the objections vanish.

[Nataku X]

I'd say that your girls not having to undergo pap smears is a practical benefit.

[TheRightGuy]

The sex drive is one of the strongest ones we have, right up there with the desire to eat

please, I don't wish to have my sex tube removed

[little jeremiah]

Ping to self...pingout?

[twinzmommy]

Aren't there something like 100+ different HPV versions out there? And won't around 80% of women/men test positive for it?

I can't remember where I read that. From what I understand though it is very very common. And out of the 100+ viruses if I remember correctly around 15 of them cause warts. The rest, are just there. *shrugs* If I recall, one doctor referred to HPV as a marker of loss of virginity.

[heartwood]

Conical cervical biopsies, done when there are persistantly abnormal cells, can weaken the cervix and cause pregnancy loss. Another nasty side effect of HPV. Other infections - bacterial, mycoplasmal - can also lead to the presence of abnormal cells and should be investigated before any biopsy is done.

[alnick]

They should make the vaccine available and optional. Problem solved. :o)