Are you going to have your girls immunized?
By KrisNY
@KrisNY (7590)
United States
January 27, 2007 7:54pm CST
I'm seriously considering this-- I wonder how many other parents have thought about this? How many parents have already done so?
There's a new immunization on the market called "Gardasil"- this is supposed to help prevent cervical cancer in women. Cervical cancer is most commonly caused by HPV (a virus) approximately 70% of all cervical cancers are created by HPV 16 & 18, and genital warts by HPV 6 and 11. Getting immunized will lower these risks of getting these types of HPV and therefore lower risk of getting cervical cancer.
They say girls between 9 and 26 should get this immunization. it works best if you get immunized before coming into contact with any of the 4 HPV's. It is given in 3 injections over 6 months-
It could cause itching, swelling, and redness at injection site.
I've read up quite a bit on this and I'm pretty sure I will have my 10 year old immunized. Of course I will talk with her pediatrician about it first.
What are everyones thoughts on this??
Is it a good thing?
Will you get your daughter immunized?
Please share--
6 people like this
10 responses
@Debs_place (10520)
• United States
7 Feb 07
I don't have a daughter - but I guess it is a concern.
I hear in texas, they want to make it mandatory.
I don't know, I guess it is just one more immunization, like MMR or something, but I think I would wait for a year or 2 if I could. Just to see what happens when they but this into use in the general population.
Are they using this in Europe? Or anywhere else in the world?
I would look into this. The FDA seems pretty slow to approve things, and if the rest of the world is doing ok on it, I would feel better.
It is a tough decision, to tell a 10 year that she is getting a shot to help prevent STDs could be a tough explaination.
1 person likes this
@Lifez2short (4962)
• United States
8 Jun 07
I have 3 girls and two of them are old enough for this shot. And yes I will be getting it for them when school phyical time rolls around. I feel like if I can protect them from this why not do it. And no I will not tell them what its for either.
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
15 Feb 07
I've thought about it, and I think I'd do it. I don't have any children yet, but for one, the reactions to the vaccine don't seem very big. I'm even considering getting the vaccine myself. I think it's a wise decision to make, you're protecting your precious child from something that CAN be prevented. Why wouldn't you do it if it can be prevented?
1 person likes this
@mytwo_daughters (2663)
• United States
28 Jan 07
I don't know. My girls are still young. I think I'm going to sit and watch and see how the immunization takes off first. You know you only get genital warts by being promiscuous..(SP) I never was, and plan to talk with my girls. However, if I feel that they are doing things, then I will have another talk with them, and take them to get it done. I'd rather have my daughters be safe then sorry. I thought about getting it myself. But I am not sleeping around, and my pap came out okay, so....I think I'm okay.
@highflyingxangel (9225)
• United States
28 Jan 07
I've thought about it, and really, why wouldn't you? I mean, it's a good immunization to have. If you can prevent it, why not? I mean it's like preventing all the other types of illnesses and diseases. I see no harm in it, I think it's a good thing.
1 person likes this
@joygermino (466)
• Philippines
8 Feb 07
i just heard of the immunization just now. i am not really aware of that kind of thing. i will try to take note of your discussion and ask my pediatrician. asking if i will have the same immunization with my daughters? i will soon find out after i visit my doctor.
@Fishmomma (11377)
• United States
15 Sep 07
I have been following this topic; however, my adult daughter has no interest in getting the shot. Its her choice and I respect her decision. If she was younger, its not likely that she would get the shot because of the side affects. She has many allergies and certainly don't want her to start swelling and itching.
@XxAngelxX (2830)
• Canada
28 Jan 07
This is the first I've heard of this immunization. I wonder if perhaps it is not available in Canada yet. I'll be keeping an ear out, and once I hear it is available in Canada, I will check with my doctor and see what her thoughts on the matter are. I would definitely consider getting my girls immunized against it.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
24 Oct 07
I would not get my daughter, if I had one, vaccinated and there was a bulletin in our church telling that it had not been properly tested and that it assumes that every woman is at risk, when it is only those who are sleeping around or have the bad luck of sleeping with or being married to someone who is having affairs with more than two women. For one thing, I do not know the long term effects and it is predicated on the belief that she and other girls will engage in unsafe s*exual practices when they get to be interested in guys. Since your pediatrician is a woman and has her own prejudices about men, she would probably say yes and she would be wrong. Are you going to risk your daughter being made sterile or have a grandchild that is mentally challenged because of this vaccine? Are you going to tell your daughter, "look I do not trust you and I know you will be sleeping with boys, so I am getting you this vaccine?" What if your daughter waits until marriage or what is she decides to remain a virgin, become a nun, or something like that?
@speedy1279 (2665)
• United States
19 Jun 07
Seeing how I have been battling the HPV virus myself and have had to undergo different treatments to get rid of precancerous cells on my cervix. I will be getting my daughter immunized when she turns 9 years old. I have actually already talked to our family doctor about it and he recommends giving her the shot when she is old enough. I don't want my daughter to have to go through what I have already had to go through. It is frustrating and stressful. I highly recommend to any and all women who have not been exposed to the HPV virus to get this shot. It will prevent you from getting the HPV virus. Because once you get the HPV viruse the shot is useless.
