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My kids doctor asked me about giving them kids the hpv vaccine. I have a son and a daughter. My DD is still too young for but my son is able to get it.

When this first came out for girls I remember hearing a lot of negative things about the vaccine. I'm wondering how safe it is. I'm seriously considering letting my DD get it because we have a family history of ovarian cancer. I also had it.

So I'm considering the kids getting this shot. Has anyone had any experience with this vaccine? Anything I should know?

I had my son get the vaccine. He was 15. He has had no issues from getting the shots...3 in all over a 7 month period.

I think the negatives were mostly political. As far as I'm concerned, it's a no-brainer. I wish it was around when I was a teenager.

My son got the series when he was 16. Planning to start DD's at her next physical.

DS is 11 and his Dr wanted to start his HPV at his last check up... I declined because I wanted more info.

When he goes in for his 12 year old physical I plan to have him get the HPV series...

I have decided the benefits outweigh the risks/negatives.

It's a very safe vaccine. I'm planning on having both my daughters vaccinated, and I am a huge advocate of vaccinating.

Do it!

My son and daughter both have had them. They sting some. I haven't heard of any health negatives. Some people feel that it condones teenage sexual activity; perhaps that's the negative you remember.

I read recently that HPV infections have dropped by half since it was introduced.

However, I haven't heard that it helps with ovarian cancer. It's mostly cervical, with some anal, mouth, penis, vulvar cancer.

I got the vaccine after d-day. HPV is so prevalent it didn't make sense not to.

Just to offer some avenues for questioning and research:

On hpv vaccine risks:

http://www.nvic.org/vaccines-and-diseases/HPV/gardasilaug82006.aspx

and

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/11/29/hpv-vaccine-risks.aspx

Vaccine concerns in general:

http://www.nvic.org/

[This message edited by InnerLight at 2:17 PM, July 9th (Tuesday)]

DS got the vaccines.

DD was too old to get them.

I really don't understand the people that think that the vaccines are 'promoting' sexual activity. I'm sure in most cases the kids have no idea (or care) what they are being vaccinated for anyway.

Was there any side effects? If so, what?

Thanks for all the replies.

Thanks for the links InnerLight.

[This message edited by peridot at 4:02 PM, July 9th (Tuesday)]

Was there any side effects? If so, what?

Nothing so extreme I could definitively fault it on the vaccine. After the second round I had some soreness and issues with my left arm, but I had just started bowling again and probably should have advised it was my dominant hand when they gave me the shot. No issues with the first or third shots.

From the National Institute of Health website:

What are the risks from this vaccine?

This HPV vaccine has been used in the U.S. and around the world for about six years and has been very safe.

However, any medicine could possibly cause a serious problem, such as a severe allergic reaction. The risk of any vaccine causing a serious injury, or death, is extremely small.

Life-threatening allergic reactions from vaccines are very rare. If they do occur, it would be within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination.

Several mild to moderate problems are known to occur with this HPV vaccine. These do not last long and go away on their own.

Reactions in the arm where the shot was given: Pain (about 8 people in 10); Redness or swelling (about 1 person in 4)

Fever: Mild (100 °F [37.8 °C]) (about 1 person in 10); Moderate (102 °F [38.9 °C]) (about 1 person in 65)

Other problems: Headache (about 1 person in 3)

Fainting: Brief fainting spells and related symptoms (such as jerking movements) can happen after any medical procedure, including vaccination. Sitting or lying down for about 15 minutes after a vaccination can help prevent fainting and injuries caused by falls. Tell your doctor if the patient feels dizzy or light-headed, or has vision changes or ringing in the ears. Like all vaccines, HPV vaccines will continue to be monitored for unusual or severe problems.

NL

Here in Canada, it is offered to all Grade 5 students. Of course, you have to sign for it if you don't want your child to get the shot.

2 of my 3 have received them, one will be next year. They ask what the shot is for...I just say, it helps to protect you from certain types of cancer. No big deal. They don't know (in grade 5) that it relates to sex, therefore there is no "promoting promiscuity" involved.

My big thing with them was that this was the first needle they have ever received without me being there. So, this was a big moment in growing up and being independent. That helped them alot...plus they didn't want to cry in front of their peers.

Side effects...no different than a flu shot....sore arm for a day, 2 max.

I got it for my DD. She gets her final dose in about 2 months. I talked with my OB/GYN several times over several years about the vaccine before making the decision. I trust my GYN completely and she assured me over and over that there have been many studies done and the vaccine is safe.

The only side effect that DD had was soreness at the shot site, like somebody had punched her. Similar to how you feel when you get a tetanus shot.

If the vaccine had any negative health effects, it would have been all over the news by now. I think most (if not all) the negatives come from those who think anything linking sex and kids (regardless of how tenuous the link) is something to be avoided.

Personally, I cheered when the vaccine was announced. I lost both parents to cancer and had cervival cancer myself so the fact that they have a vaccine against *any* form of the disease is great news.

No use in me getting it since I've already had that form plus I'm way too old. My DD considered it but she just missed the cut off age. She would have been too old by her next appointment. With that in mind, I have little doubt that when my GDs are old enough, they'll get vaccinated.

From what I've read, HPV can lead to different types of cancer in females and Genital warts in both males and females. For this reason, not all insurance plans will cover HPV vaccinations for males even though they are covered for females. Be sure you check this out so you aren't surprised with a charge.

The kids had their well checks today. Their doctor had stopped taking their insurance so I had to find them a new doctor who did. This was the first time the kids had seen this doctor.

She wasn't too pushy with the vaccine but her nurse was. The nurse went as far to tell me to only look at the CDC website. She mentioned staying off Facebook and other websites. I had told them both I wanted to research this vaccine before giving it to the kids. I told them I just wanted to make an informed decision before giving my kids such a new drug.

I had my girls done the first year it was available in Canada before the schools or insurance was paying for it. I was a single mom at the time and it was a lot of money for me to shell out but I figured that even if the potential to protect against cancer was minimal it was worth it.

Both of my kids will get it. I need to get on the ball and ask our PCP to order it.