“Would you let your daughter have the cervical cancer jab?” asks The Daily Mail today. Hmmm. Difficult one. My daughter is 12 and will presumably be offered the vaccine some time in September at her school. I need to find out some more information. I am not sure what I will do. I don’t know how easy it will be to opt out. I gather that that option was frowned upon when the vaccinations were introduced in America in 2006.
The government have decided on the cheaper drug Cervarix (made by GlaxoSmithKline) which only protects against cancer causing strains, unlike Gardasil their other option, which also protects against strains that cause genital warts. Both vaccines prevent the viral infections which can go on to cause cancer and it appears that they will only be effective if given before girls become sexually active.
The girls will receive three injections which will offer them 70% protection against cervical cancer. Although It would save approximately 1000 women per year from dying of the disease, that figure equates to less than three deaths per 100,000 of the population, which is exceedingly low compared to breast or lung cancer. However, it is not just about preventing cervical cancer deaths, it is about preventing the invasive cancer itself (which can be drastic) and development of all the precancerous to high grade lesions that get picked up by smears. There are approximately 25,000 cases of high grade lesions/cervical carcinomas per year. Plus the number of abnormal smears is significantly more, probably around several hundred thousand per year. To prevent these in over 70% of all women would be an incredible achievement.
I gather that the safety data is good and the side-effects minimal, but the drug is very new and large scale trials only go back six years, so presumably it is not known how long will the protection last.
The human papillomavirus (HPV) said to be carried by one in ten girls under 16 is sexually transmitted and once it enters the cervix causes cell mutation which if undetected, will lead to cancer. Using a condom gives you 100% protection and is non invasive. Cutting off any boys willies that come near my daughter will also offer 100% protection.
Could somebody please tell me why it is not the boys that are being given the vaccination either as well as or instead of the girls? Given that they are the ones that I assume are bloody passing it on to the girls it seems like a reasonable option….or am I missing something here?
ciara
September 2, 2008“The human papilloma (pronounced “pap-ah-LO-mah”) virus, also called HPV, is a common virus that infects the skin and mucous membranes. There are more than 100 types of HPV. Click here to view a magnified, color-enhanced picture of an HPV virus particle.
The types of HPV that cause common warts, such as those found on the hands and feet, are spread through skin-to-skin contact. In addition, it is also possible to get these common types of warts after sharing towels or other objects with a person who has warts.
About 30 types of HPV are spread only through direct genital contact. These “genital” types of HPV are either: 1) “high-risk” – which means they can cause certain kinds of cancer (most commonly, cervical cancer) if the infection persists, or 2) “low-risk” – which means they are not associated with cancer, but can cause genital warts. Unless you develop one of these problems, the only way to know whether you have HPV is by being tested.”
this was taken from an informational website. 100 types of hpv. great. 30 of which are sexually transmitted. my daughter was supposed to get this shot after she turned 11 in feb. i decided to hold out a little longer just because i heard one of the side effects is ‘passing out’.
i think that anything that can prevent some forms of cancer, no matter what kind, is worth it to keep my girls healthy. it sucks that guys don’t have this issue or have to have some kind of injection.
i just read that a condom will NOT give you 100% protection considering that it does not cover the whole genitalia area.
now CUTTING OFF willies would definitely be 100% protection! LOL
i’m thinking maybe because boys don’t have a cervix it’s not a concern?? but there definitely should be something in place to help prevent it or the spread of it. who knows?
all i know is, i’ve had two abnormal paps, and being almost 42, it’s way too late for me to even get some sort of protection such as the immunization. at least our girls will have the chance to protect themselves.
sorry for the long-winded comment LOL
Suzysoo
September 2, 2008I don’t know… I’m always wary of the idea of giving loads of people a drug, for whatever reason, incase they turn round in 5 years time and go ‘Oh, really sorry, we shouldn’t have given it to anyone because it has caused this, this and this…’
Remember Seroxat and the problems it caused(I know people personally who have never been the same since taking it). And all the confusing stuff said about the MMR vaccine.
Dodgy ground.
But to echo your sentiments-a pair of rusty garden shears will do the trick every time!
Claire
September 3, 2008I feel as a PhD research scientist I should comment on this….
You shouldn’t compare this vaccine (or any other for that matter) to the MMR vaccine, since the hype around it being linked with autism was grossly our of proportion. The initial study that was conducted (and pretty much the only one that found the link) was deeply flawed see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MMR_vaccine_controversy and its references for more details. As a result, less people got the MMR and measles rates are up. Measles is fatal and outbreaks in Ireland a few years ago due to people not taking the vaccine has caused several childs deaths.
I for one would take the cervical cancer vaccine anyday, the side effects are quite trivial in comparison to what the vaccine will prevent. The legislation around clinical trials particularly in young adults and children has some of the highest regulations in the drug industry. Those who finally make the decision to approve a drug/vaccine for use in young adults will have not taken it lightly and will have considered in light of huge amounts of trial data whether the risk to benefit is balanced on the right side.
One other word of advice, please please do not take scientific information from the Daily Mail or any other tabloid newspaper, 99.9% of the stuff they write about science is rubbish and taken completely out of proportion. Take a look at Ben Goldacres Bad Science website, http://badscience.net/. He spends a lot of time debunking the science that is reported in the British media.
Fat, frumpy and fifty...
September 3, 2008‘Cutting off any boys willies that come near my daughter will also offer 100% protection.’ well that is a given.. yeah!!
I am on the floor here LOL….YOU ROCK!!
I will encourage my daughter to have the appropriate jabs…l’m one of the dodgy smear and nasty cells variety and thank god for the smear test that caught it…following lazer treatment and yearly tests for 5 yrs l’ve been clear since, but a bit scary…
so if there is a chance l carried it and so my daughter may…or that anyones daughter may as well as the parent that hasnt yet found it…l wont be taking any chances, always vaccinate l say….the odds are in their favour …
great question though!!
saz x
Fat, frumpy and fifty...
September 3, 2008oh and the reason they dont give it to boys as l understand it, it that it is often congential…not through contact only….
and anyway if we dont leave the contraception, paying of the bills and the buying of school uniforms to them..why would we are health care1? duh!!
"M"
September 4, 2008Good lord this is wrong in so many ways – where to start? First off; The Daily Mail?!!!! I thought you were sensible, educated, Liberal, etc etc. everything that the Daily Mail just so is not; Right wing – to a point of being Facist – anti-semitic, homophobic and usually read by small minded, small town bigots – need I go on?….To the overseas readers Bree (Desperate Housewives) would be an arch reader – although even she has mellowed on account of having accepted her gay son Andrew (Rant over)……When it comes to the point in question though, it takes two to shag (in case you had forgotton) the “chopping off boys willies” is just the sort of attitude that pushes these issues away….Kids will shag…end of…(at what age did you lose your virginity? eh?) Educate, explain the dangers, give them condoms and any vacine that will help protect them….if there was a vacine for HIV would you even hesitate? And….although boys do carry the virus, they invariably pick it up from….(duh)….a girl! X
family affairs
September 4, 2008Points taken “M”…in my defence, I only referred to The Daily Mail in this particular instance because they were covering the story on the front page and I wanted to write about the vaccine anyway…and of course I’m only joking about chopping off boys willies xx
'M'
September 4, 2008well done you for accepting and posting my comments – (a lesser person might have just; ‘delete’!) It was written with tongue firmly in cheek…. but up to a point – STD’s are all too easily pinned, unfairly on the boy/guy. I’m certainly very pleased indeed to learn you have not turned into an avid Daily Mail-ite – this moving to the burbs thing might just have got to you…LOL!