Why I had my daughter vaccinated for HPV
As a pediatrician and a mom, I made sure my daughter always put on her helmet before she rode off on her bike, and I made sure she had an HPV vaccine by age 12 - not because I expected her to have sex at that tender age, but because I knew how important it was to protect her from HPV well before her first sexual experience.
Why I had my daughter vaccinated for HPV
Rima H. Himelstein
Today we have the first entry by Rima H. Himelstein, M.D., a pediatrician with Crozer-Keystone Health System. Board-certified in adolescent medicine, Dr. Himelstein treats boys and girls age 12 to 21. She has a special focus on adolescent gynecology and sexual health and she conducts research in youth development.
As a pediatrician and a mom, I made sure my daughter always put on her helmet before she rode off on her bike, and I made sure she had an HPV vaccine by age 12 — not because I expected her to have sex at that tender age, but because I knew how important it was to protect her from HPV well before her first sexual experience.
Yet many parents are skipping or delaying this important vaccine. According to one Centers for Disease Control and Prevention survey, just one in three teenage girls is fully vaccinated against human papilloma virus (HPV). While vaccination rates are rising for some other teen and preteen vaccines, the HPV vaccine is lagging behind.
HPV is actually a group of more than 40 different viruses. Spread by sexual contact, HPV infections often cause no symptoms and usually go away without treatment. But HPV is also the most common STI, or sexually transmitted infection: About half of all sexually active males and females are infected with HPV, often within 48 months after their first sexual experience. I’m sorry to say that it’s all too common among 15- to 19-year-old girls.
HPV is the main cause of cervical cancer. About 10,000 women get cervical cancer every year in the United States, and 3,700 die as a result. HPV can also cause other cancers in women and men, as well as genital warts. Condoms aren’t completely effective at preventing spread of the virus.
That’s the bad news. Now for the good news:
HPV vaccine protects against the viruses that cause more than 70 percent of cervical cancer and 90 percent of genital warts. That’s why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends that girls receive a three-dose HPV vaccine around the age of 11 or 12. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine all support the recommendation. At that age, the vaccine produces the best immune response.
There are two FDA-approved HPV vaccines: Gardasil and Cervarix. Both are effective at preventing HPV infections and related cancers. The HPV vaccine is given in three parts: an initial dose, a second dose one to two months later, and a third dose six months after the first.
If your child is over 12 and has not been vaccinated, don’t panic. The HPV vaccine still works and is also recommended for 13- to 26-year-olds who haven’t yet received it. And if you are late for a dose, you don’t have to start over. (Wouldn’t it be great if everything in life was like this!)
Why delay? Most of my patients’ parents want their preteens to have the HPV vaccine. To them, it’s another routine childhood immunization, just like vaccines against flu, measles-mumps-rubella, chickenpox, hepatitis A and B, meningitis ... and the list goes on.
Some parents want to wait because they don’t “trust” the vaccine yet. But as the AAP points out, more than 35 million doses have been given since the HPV vaccine was introduced (it was approved in 2006), and it has an excellent safety record. Usually, side effects are mild: a little pain or swelling at the injection site, mild fever, etc. Like every vaccine, HPV vaccine has its rare risks. My own daughter (and both of my sons) had the HPV vaccine.
And some parents want to wait because they do not feel comfortable talking about sex with their 11-year-old. I understand how difficult this may seem.
My advice: Open the door to these kinds of talks. Let your children know that they can talk to you about any and all subjects, including sex. You should know that parents influence their kids more than anyone else. And your kids really are listening! Your car ride to the doctor’s office for the vaccine offers the perfect opportunity (they can’t escape and neither can you)! Think of the vaccine as an invitation to talk — and one that you receive three times!
So, have your preteen kids received the HPV vaccine? And if not, why are you waiting?
Sounds like sound thinking to me.— Wildman Bill- As the mother of 2 girls trying to get this vaccine for the past 4 years. The insurance companies are REFUSING to allow doctors to stock this vaccine in their office. They must wait until they have a list of patients. By the time they get the required number of patients, the time period for the 2nd injection has passed and you have to start over. I tried 3 times to get this for my eldest daughter and we found it impossible, so until the insurance companies and the doctors, and the CDC all cooperate, DO NOT EXPECT to see an increase in the number of girls getting this vaccine.— pw1967
- We're just scared of vaccines, especially ones that are brand new. If this was out for 20 years it would be fine, but it really has no track record.— neddyflanders
- As someone who lost his mother to cervical cancer at the age of 17, it infuriates me to see this vaccine politicized. It will save thousands of women's lives, and spare their families immeasurable grief.— jpb
- another government plot again woman.... i don't believe this mess...— a1waysbh1sj0y
- I don't mind vaccines but I mind them being forced onto the population. Give people the information and let them make their own educated decisions.— jkt
- no way would i get this for my daughter or son. these people push it because they make money from vaccines. where are the vaccines made? china? india? what is the adjuvant in this vaccine is it formaldehyde, aluminum, mercury, or some other heavy metal/ some kids have died from it is my understanding. not everybody can stand this assault on the body. if your body is healthy, trust it.— jeanpublic
- Dr. Himelstein has it right about this vaccine. Those who say otherwise are not informed and/or have never witnessed the devasting effects of cervical cancer. We are lucky to have this first cancer preventing immunization.— nurseb
- I have been educated and I don't feel that there is enough long term evidence that it has protected anyone. My children are immunized for what is required.
I recently took my daughter for her well check (she is 9). The doctor was discussing that they recommend that girls get Gardasil at 11. I explained that my children recieve the mandated immunizations and that I would defer Garadasil shots. This was not well recieved by the doctor.
I realize that this is not a popular decision but I am not going with the crowd. My children are happy and healhty.
If you want to have your children vaccinated that is your pregoative , my choice is not to and I was that was equally respected.— HeyRN - My sister is only 24 and has HPV. If they would of had this vaccine when we were kids I am 100% sure my mother would of had us get it. So I however do think this is a vaccine I will have my son get.— lizzid83
