You're right that every vaccine has risk. But my daughter cannot get HPV by sharing a drinking fountain or breathing the same air as another kid who has the virus. She could get measles (actually she *did* get measles... fully vaccinated, thank you) or mumps or the flu through every day contact. Much of HPV transmission can be prevented by behavior modification. As for the "the husband may have a past" argument; she can get the vaccine later if need be.
Playing the odds. What we really need to know is: How many girls have side effects from the shot? (Is it 1:1000?) What are the odds that a woman will die from cervical cancer? (Is it higher or lower?) What are the *long term* side effects of the shot? (birth defects? infertility? autoimmune disease? cancer? How can we possibly have a frickin' clue about *that* for at least 10 years?)
Until these questions are answered, I will not be giving my daughter this shot.
I agree with you that the determination as to whether or not to get the vaccine should be left to the parents and the physician, since the only person being put at risk by the lack of vaccination is the parents’ own child.
However, you did say that a woman could be vaccinated later if her husband “has a past.” That’s only true if she’s vaccinated prior to any sexual activity.