HPV Vaccine (guardasil) - Have you vaccinated your children?

[Unique User]

This came up on our list of recommended vaccines for my 13 year old.  I'm trying hard to separate the controversy from the actual benefits, but am still considering this one.  We've done all other vaccines without a thought and I am definitely not an anti-vaxxer.   

[Bracken_Joy]

Do you have any specific concerns with the vaccine? When I was younger, it was no question for me- I got the vaccine. Why risk cancer?

And to bump a little science: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_150845.html

[Argyle]

Yep, I had my 13-year-old (a boy) vaccinated.  This kind of cancer seems to be becoming more common — I thought, could I ever live with myself if he got it, or gave it to his wife, in the future?  When a vaccine is relatively new, there is a certain unknown quality that can lead to worry.  I decided that the benefits considerably outweighed the unknown/worry. The cancer is a known!

[Dee18]

Yes. My daughter was vaccinated.  I had a cousin die of cervical cancer so I know the seriousness of that disease.  My daughter had no side effects from the vaccination.  We have a close family friend who is a retired emergency physician and he says if people saw the pain and premature deaths preventable diseases cause, people would not be anti-vaccine. 

[caliq]

I got the vaccine immediately when it came out; I think I was 14 or so.  Why would you not?  I experienced no side effects whatsoever.  I believe the only controversy surrounding this vaccine is conservative religious types who are sure it will lead to their kids participating in massive unprotected orgies or something?

Do be aware that it doesn't protect against all strains of HPV, just against the 4 that most commonly cause cervical cancer. 

[mamagoose]

If it were an option when I was a teenager, I would have gotten it. I will absolutely get it for my daughter when she is of age.

[Letj]

I got it for my 14 year old daughter. No side effects whatsoever.

[MoneyCat]

I dunno.  Would you rather your child catch HPV or catch autism?  Plus vaccines are full of chemical toxins while HPV is all-natural and organic.  [/sarcasm]

[sandandsun]

Both of mine are close to being old enough to get it and both, boy and girl, will absolutely get it when they are old enough...

[The Happy Philosopher]

HPV does not only cause cervical cancer. The demographics of many head and neck cancers in males has changed over the years. Oropharengeal squamous cell cancer is now mostly due to HPV rather than smoking and alcohol consumption (estimated 70-80% in North America).  One should strongly consider vaccinating boys as well as girls which is the current CDC recommendation.

[Moontayne]

I got the vaccine shortly after it came out. I had no side effects, but it was already too late for me. I was diagnosed with cervical cancer last year, on my 26th birthday. My daughter will absolutely be getting the shot, as will any future children that I am able to have.

[fa]

Yes.  HPV is a must.  Very effective.  We vaccinated both of our kids (male and female) when the vaccine came out.  Had no problems.

[Bracken_Joy]

I got the vaccine shortly after it came out. I had no side effects, but it was already too late for me. I was diagnosed with cervical cancer last year, on my 26th birthday. My daughter will absolutely be getting the shot, as will any future children that I am able to have.

So sorry to hear that. I hope your journey is/was manageable and brings you personal growth and wellness.

[Freeme]

I gave my daughter her first shot she immediately began a seizure and passed out. What is in it that could cause such a quick response. No more for us thank you.

[Bracken_Joy]

I gave my daughter her first shot she immediately began a seizure and passed out. What is in it that could cause such a quick response. No more for us thank you.

I would very much like to hear more details on this.

[Lyssa]

I got the series of 3 shots when I was a teenager (about 10 years ago when it was brand new). I was happy to lower my risk of getting cervical cancer. Never experienced any side-effects.

Same here. My gyn also practised tropical medcine and was watching her patients' vaccination status like a hawk.

Encourage your kid to "massage" the upper arm where the shot took place. Gardasil can cause a reddish hot "ball" at the injection spot. It's not dangerous but not very pleaseant either. I diligently rubbed and squeezed the first time, forgot after the second, got said reaction and took way better care of the third. :-)

A seizure after a vaccination (after any vaccination) is extremely uncommon, a real emergency and most likely caused by an allergy.

People with allergies can only be protected if people without allergies get vaccinated.

[former player]

I gave my daughter her first shot she immediately began a seizure and passed out. What is in it that could cause such a quick response. No more for us thank you.

Not saying that this is the case for your daughter, but I've been wary of reporter seizures in kids ever since I saw a kid who had been diagnosed as having seizures having the most spectacular tantrum I have ever had the displeasure to witness, described by her mother at the time as "having another seizure".

[LiveLean]

Yes, 12-year-old son has gotten the shots recently.

[Mesmoiselle]

I got the series over the months right before my 27th Birth day as a present to myself. No reactions.

[Moontayne]

I got the vaccine shortly after it came out. I had no side effects, but it was already too late for me. I was diagnosed with cervical cancer last year, on my 26th birthday. My daughter will absolutely be getting the shot, as will any future children that I am able to have.

So sorry to hear that. I hope your journey is/was manageable and brings you personal growth and wellness.

Thank you. We caught it early, so it just required a couple of surgeries. The prognosis is good, but it was one of the scariest things I've experienced, and I still worry about it coming back. It definitely caused me to re-evaluate a lot of things, and I've been able to make some positive changes in my life. Still, I don't think anyone should have to go through that experience, especially now that it is preventable.

[Unique User]

I got the vaccine shortly after it came out. I had no side effects, but it was already too late for me. I was diagnosed with cervical cancer last year, on my 26th birthday. My daughter will absolutely be getting the shot, as will any future children that I am able to have.

So sorry to hear that. I hope your journey is/was manageable and brings you personal growth and wellness.

Thank you. We caught it early, so it just required a couple of surgeries. The prognosis is good, but it was one of the scariest things I've experienced, and I still worry about it coming back. It definitely caused me to re-evaluate a lot of things, and I've been able to make some positive changes in my life. Still, I don't think anyone should have to go through that experience, especially now that it is preventable.

Glad to hear you caught it early. 

After looking at the research and talking with another doc, we are going to schedule her for this vaccine.  Thanks for all the feedback.  I think I was hesitant because it was new and because it was explained to me as optional at the doctor's office.  It seemed odd to have it described as optional. 

[RootofGood]

I gave my daughter her first shot she immediately began a seizure and passed out. What is in it that could cause such a quick response. No more for us thank you.

I passed out once after receiving the flu shot.  I'm not sure why, and have received dozens of vaccinations without any adverse side effects before and after that one time (when I was in my early teens, coincidentally).  Not dying of measles, polio, various poxes, complications from flu, or other communicable diseases made it well worth the passing out once.  For a long time I just told the nurse or phlebotomist that's about to stick me that I've passed out before, FYI and they pay attention to me after giving the injection, or put the arm bar down so I won't fall face first out of the chair. 

Oh, and I'll be getting the gardasil for my two girls for sure and the boy (who's 2) if it's recommended for him. 

[zhelud]

My 13-year old son has so far had 2 of the 3 shots. No side effects. The doc did say that in rare cases someone would faint in the 15 minutes or so afterwards, so we stuck around the office for a while each time just in case.

 

[Elliot]

It's not uncommon for even grown men to go white and shaky then pass out after needles ;)

[Bracken_Joy]

It's not uncommon for even grown men to go white and shaky then pass out after needles ;)

+1. Men tend to faint more then women with multiple injections. I read that once and always believed it... never re-checked though! =P

[rubor]

Don't forget, in addition to protecting your child against cervical cancer (and probably cancer of the mouth and throat as well), the vaccine also reduces the chance that they will get genital warts. Even if these don't turn into cancer, they can be psychologically traumatizing and painful to treat.

True seizures after vaccinations are uncommon, but a shaking seizure-like episode and brief loss of consciousness when someone is really nervous about the shot is more frequent.

[homehandymum]

My mother died of an HPV-related cancer.

Yes, my kids will be getting this vaccine.

[Neustache]

I'm sorry homehandymum.....


I'll admit to having a very negative reaction to hearing about this shot when it first came out.  However, my kiddos will receive it especially since it will be years from now and I'll feel pretty good about knowing how effective and safe it is by that time.  New vaccines make me a tad nervous.


Even for the uber-conservative parent who thinks their kiddo won't ever have pre-marital sex (and that somehow a shot will negate that kid's entire upbringing, versus...say... the more likely culprit of teenage hormones), there's always the worst case scenario of rape and I think the vaccine should be given.  Shoot...say you make it to marriage without having sex, people do cheat and you might not know who else your spouse has been with during your marriage.  What a horrible double whammy to have a cheating spouse and get an STD that could cause cancer. 

[RunHappy]

I did not get it for my daughter.  It had just come out a few months before and did not feel comfortable for her receiving it without more data.

If it were today though, I would have her get it. From what other parents have said, it is one of the more painful ones.

[rubybeth]

No kids, but I was just at the cusp of nearly-too-old when the vaccine came out, so I got the series, as did my younger sister. I don't recall it being anymore painful than any other vaccine, and I had no side affects. If I did have kids, I would definitely get them this vaccine.

[Bracken_Joy]

I did not get it for my daughter.  It had just come out a few months before and did not feel comfortable for her receiving it without more data.

If it were today though, I would have her get it. From what other parents have said, it is one of the more painful ones.

On par with tetanus. Sore muscles for sure. MUCH better if you get it glute instead of arm. You can ask for that- actually a safer injection site anyway, as there are fewer nerves and large vessels in the injection zone. My first was arm, second two I asked for gluteal injection. 100% better =)

[I'm a red panda]

It's not uncommon for even grown men to go white and shaky then pass out after needles ;)

Passing out is much different from having a seizure though.
Lots of people pass out after vaccinations or even giving blood.

I would not continue a shot cycle if there was a seizure. Is it recommended to?

[CheapskateWife]

I'll admit to having a very negative reaction to hearing about this shot when it first came out.  However, my kiddos will receive it especially since it will be years from now and I'll feel pretty good about knowing how effective and safe it is by that time. 

I absolutely refused to consider it when my state decided to pass a law MANDATING it for girls at 12 years of age....turns out the Governor in question had financial donations coming in from Merck.  The new mandate was summarily overturned but it sure left a bad taste in my mouth.  Oh, and now that a$$hat is pondering another run for president.  Grrrrr...

[Bracken_Joy]

It's not uncommon for even grown men to go white and shaky then pass out after needles ;)

Passing out is much different from having a seizure though.
Lots of people pass out after vaccinations or even giving blood.

I would not continue a shot cycle if there was a seizure. Is it recommended to?

I don't know what specific recommendations are, but I would follow up with an allergist personally. People usually react to the carrier components, so I would want to identify what the sensitivity was.

[caliq]

I'll admit to having a very negative reaction to hearing about this shot when it first came out.  However, my kiddos will receive it especially since it will be years from now and I'll feel pretty good about knowing how effective and safe it is by that time. 

I absolutely refused to consider it when my state decided to pass a law MANDATING it for girls at 12 years of age....turns out the Governor in question had financial donations coming in from Merck.  The new mandate was summarily overturned but it sure left a bad taste in my mouth.  Oh, and now that a$$hat is pondering another run for president.  Grrrrr...

Why is it any different than other mandated vaccines? 

[Lyssa]

I'll admit to having a very negative reaction to hearing about this shot when it first came out.  However, my kiddos will receive it especially since it will be years from now and I'll feel pretty good about knowing how effective and safe it is by that time. 

I absolutely refused to consider it when my state decided to pass a law MANDATING it for girls at 12 years of age....turns out the Governor in question had financial donations coming in from Merck.  The new mandate was summarily overturned but it sure left a bad taste in my mouth.  Oh, and now that a$$hat is pondering another run for president.  Grrrrr...

Increased risk of cervical cancer to show BigPharma how much I dislike them? Does not sound reasonable to me. Moreover you then would need to refuse treatment in order not to let them have the last laugh and make an even bigger profit...

[CheapskateWife]

I'll admit to having a very negative reaction to hearing about this shot when it first came out.  However, my kiddos will receive it especially since it will be years from now and I'll feel pretty good about knowing how effective and safe it is by that time. 

I absolutely refused to consider it when my state decided to pass a law MANDATING it for girls at 12 years of age....turns out the Governor in question had financial donations coming in from Merck.  The new mandate was summarily overturned but it sure left a bad taste in my mouth.  Oh, and now that a$$hat is pondering another run for president.  Grrrrr...

Increased risk of cervical cancer to show BigPharma how much I dislike them? Does not sound reasonable to me. Moreover you then would need to refuse treatment in order not to let them have the last laugh and make an even bigger profit...

Frankly this was 10 years ago, and the vaccine had not been approved for very long.  If you know anything about Rick Perry, you would think twice about anything he decided was in the best interests of women in the state of Texas.

I am now the mother of teenage boys, and am working with their dad to see about getting them vaccinated as a way to protect their future partners.

[cacaoheart]

My wife and I do not yet have kids, but we are both vaccinated and would have any kids we do eventually have vaccinated ASAP, as it's not helpful once they've been exposed, and people can be exposed long before they're off at college.

For people thinking of getting themselves or their kids vaccinated soon, a new version that covers 9 strains of HPV vs only 4 was approved late last year and should start to be available soon if not already:

http://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm426485.htm

"Covering nine HPV types, five more HPV types than Gardasil (previously approved by the FDA), Gardasil 9 has the potential to prevent approximately 90 percent of cervical, vulvar, vaginal and anal cancers."

[Freeme]

The Dr told me seizures were a common side effect after it happened. My daughter is not afraid of shots and didn't think it was a big deal. I just didn't like that it could have such a quick response. She came back to within about 30 seconds but didn't know what happened. It just scared me.

[Adventine]

I had the 3-shot vaccination a couple of years ago, together with my sister a year younger than me. No bad side effects for either of us.

[Luckyvik]

I got it as an adult. They test you first to make sure you don't have the strains of HPV already as it's very common. Luckily I didn't have it so I could get the vaccine.


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[I'm a red panda]

I am now the mother of teenage boys, and am working with their dad to see about getting them vaccinated as a way to protect their future partners.

Consider it as a way to protect them as well. HPV can cause penile, anal, throat cancers in men. 

[Bracken_Joy]

The Dr told me seizures were a common side effect after it happened. My daughter is not afraid of shots and didn't think it was a big deal. I just didn't like that it could have such a quick response. She came back to within about 30 seconds but didn't know what happened. It just scared me.

Reading about it, it does sound like there have been some faintings with muscle jerking associated. Not true seizures. (The difference being the brain activity behind the two events- may look similar, but important differences). Not to say that would not be a very scary experience, but it is important to differentiate, because having a history of seizures predisposes you to more of them. Did she have a history of fever-related seizures as a child? That is another explanation. I'm trying to remember the term behind this, but it's something like the "tinderbox" or "spark zone" or something.

And I hope you don't feel I'm nit-picking. I try to get all the information I can so that I can make informed choices and recommendations. And it could be a comfort to you to see if you think it was a faint and jerking or a tonic-clonic or myoclonic seizure, if you were worried about the impact a seizure history has.

[87tweetybirds]

When the vaccine came out I was almost "to old" to get it, but I got it with no problems. My kids (however many I have down the road) will be getting it too. I know that there are some people with concerns that is for an STD, and to them I would say there are other ways of getting the virus. Not as common, but possible are situations like gentleman 1 uses urinal/toilet and after touching wart infected penis flushes toilet and touches other surfaces before leaving the bathroom without washing hands, gentleman 2 comes along and prior to touching penis comes in contact with hpv virus on surfaces which is then spread to his penis, and then to all sexual partners. It's not as common, but possible. It is after all a virus, and common disinfectants(like alcohol) don't kill it.

[rubor]

I know that there are some people with concerns that is for an STD, and to them I would say there are other ways of getting the virus. Not as common, but possible are situations like gentleman 1 uses urinal/toilet and after touching wart infected penis flushes toilet and touches other surfaces before leaving the bathroom without washing hands, gentleman 2 comes along and prior to touching penis comes in contact with hpv virus on surfaces which is then spread to his penis, and then to all sexual partners. It's not as common, but possible. It is after all a virus, and common disinfectants(like alcohol) don't kill it.

Nope, doesn't work that way.

1. HPV transmission (for the types prevented by the vaccine) requires sexual contact. Flush toilets with no fear whatsoever.
2. Alcohol kills loads of viruses. HPV is more resistant to commercial disinfectants but alcohol will kill it given a high enough concentration and time. 90% isopropanol for a minute should do just fine.

[Bracken_Joy]

I just did a big research project on it that changed my mind. I will now be getting DD vaccinated. In addition the top cancer doc where I work (think big cancer institute) very much agrees with it by noting a large ratio of cancer would be easily wiped out by getting our kids vaccinated.

It all makes a lot of sense, especially when you look into the role of the immune system in cancer.

Good on you for being willing to change your mind with your findings. So many people won't, just because they've decided their mind is made up.

[Lyssa]

I know that there are some people with concerns that is for an STD, and to them I would say there are other ways of getting the virus. Not as common, but possible are situations like gentleman 1 uses urinal/toilet and after touching wart infected penis flushes toilet and touches other surfaces before leaving the bathroom without washing hands, gentleman 2 comes along and prior to touching penis comes in contact with hpv virus on surfaces which is then spread to his penis, and then to all sexual partners. It's not as common, but possible. It is after all a virus, and common disinfectants(like alcohol) don't kill it.

Nope, doesn't work that way.

1. HPV transmission (for the types prevented by the vaccine) requires sexual contact. Flush toilets with no fear whatsoever.
2. Alcohol kills loads of viruses. HPV is more resistant to commercial disinfectants but alcohol will kill it given a high enough concentration and time. 90% isopropanol for a minute should do just fine.

If I remember correctly that's not in line with the latest research (it was the state of information when Gardasil entered the market) which found very young girls not sexually active and to the best knowledge of the researchers not sexually abused either having the same HPV strain as their mothers, most likely contracted via shared towels. Not very common but it does happen.

[louloulou]

I am just writing up a paper on HPV vaccination as part of my master's degree. Everything I have read while researching this paper just reinforces to me how important it will be to get my daughters vaccinated in a few years time (they are only 5 and 7 at moment). It actually makes me sad that so many choose not to vaccinate without doing proper research... Dr. google has a lot to answer for.

[jennc123]

Yes all 4 of my teenagers have gotten it.  3 boys / 1 girl. 

The only thing I was initially leery about was the price tag, but then found out insurance would cover it!  Sold!

[MicroRN]

My boys are too young, but are fully vaccinated otherwise and will get it when they're the right age.