Some Parents Question Cancer Vaccine

Doctors Recommend HPV Shot For Pre-Teens, But Not All Parents On Board

(CBS)  There are two things parents don't like to think about their kids having — sex and cancer. But they're now being forced to discuss both. There's a new vaccine that prevents cervical cancer, a disease that's diagnosed in 10,000 women every year. As CBS News correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi reports, this fall, parents must decide whether their daughters should get it or not.

When Dr. Shakha Gillin talks to young patients about the HPV vaccine, she is sometimes met with giggles.

"It also prevents against genital warts," Dr. Gillin tells a young girl.

The awkward innocence of getting a shot is now being injected with just plain awkwardness: pre-teen sex talk.

The vaccine is not a license to be sexually active. It protects girls against the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus, which causes almost all of cerivcal cancer cases.

Getting the vaccine, a series of three shots, would seem like a no-brainer. But the problem for some parents is the age: Doctors are recommending that girls get the vaccine between ages 9 and 12.

Julia Rogers is 12 years old, and her mother says "it's beyond her developmental stage. It's like asking her to have a Pap smear.".

The Rogers aren't opposed to having their kids vaccinated. In fact, looking at her shot records, Julia has had 21 vaccinations. But for now, they're going to pass on this one.

"I think to have a conversation prior to any interest in the opposite sex is absolutely beyond her developmental stage, and it's inappropriate, to be honest with you," Julia's mother says.

While it's hard for parents to talk about sex while their daughters are still in pigtails, Gillin says it's a necessary conversation about cancer and a vaccine for a disease that kills 4,000 women a year in the United States.

"When you look at what a big deal cervical cancer is, why wait?" Gillin says.

She argues it's possible to preserve a girl's innocence and her health at the same time, that the vaccine is just to keep girls and women safe, and that it's no different than telling a child they need to get a shot for tetanus or a meningitis vaccine.

Crying and shots have always gone together. But this time, the only screaming some parents hear is in their heads.

[a3324789]

Many people die from cancer each year, who probably would have opted for a vaccine if one existed. It seems many individuals cling to the idea that an individual may be %u201Cvirtuous%u201D by denying the IDEA that people are having ***. No matter how many times a parent tries to instill their moral ideals upon a child %u2013 there will inevitably be those who refuse to listen. How can a parent endanger a child%u2019s life by denying a vaccine? When that young person becomes infected with HPV, the parent can look the young person in the eye and say, %u201CWell, if you had listened to me and not had ***, then you wouldn%u2019t be in this predicament!%u201D That is very similar to saying, %u201CI didn%u2019t protect you because I wanted you to learn from your mistakes. Infertility or death will be your teacher, but it%u2019s your fault.%u201D Is this the best message? Parents have the responsibility of protecting their children. Too often young people make adult decisions because parents lack the backbone to truly lead teach them. I would like to see the same vaccination be created for use on males, since all people can carry the virus, it is logical to assume that to stop its spread you need to treat all possible carriers. The news seemed to focus on a very %u201Csuburban-type%u201D of opinion, why weren't there opinions on the news from people of varying social status?

This parental hesitation is ridiculous. You get your kids the shots. Period. They don't have to understand about *** to be protected from a virus. In California, kids get vaccinated for there kinds of hepatitis with no need to tell them not to eat in Mexican restaurants, not to have *** and not to share needles. They get so many shots anyway that three more won't matter.

[phbh]

I have to agree w/ those bringing up the medical questions - what are the longterm effects?; why not offer to males?; does it effect reproduction in the long term?; - Where are the factual, non-bias answers to these questions?

I am struggling with whether to agree w/ doctor's recommendation to vaccinate my 16 yr old daughter. The "experts" say to administer between 9 & 11 years, mine is 16, will that affect her differently? And it's not the promiscuity issue for me, it's how will this affect her down the road?

I feel the media needs to address and report on the medical issues more, rather than grabbing on to and reporting the "***" issues.

[lanaedawn]

I don't think the *** talk is necessary to giving this shot. The shots I was given as a child were never explained any further than "It will help prevent you from getting sick."

As someone who was diagnosed with HPV when I was 19 and whose had two laser surgeries to combat abnormal cells on my cervix, I strongly insisted that my mother take my 15 year old sister to get the vaccine as soon as it came out.

These drugs have been tested for years, and have gone through so many trials I'm not at all worried about effects down the road.

Q: What are the possible reproduction harmful effects of Gardasil?
A: From Merck's website - It is not known whether Gardasil can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or if it can affect reproductive capacity.

There are a TON of drugs that cannot be taken while pregnant which is why it makes so much sense to get vaccinated between 9-12 years old.

[rachaelburries]

A child recieving an HPV vaccine is in no way in comparison to a child having a pap smear. The reason why young girls are being offered the HPV vaccine is as a prophalactic measure.No mother actually knows when there will be the possibilty of thier child being exposed. The point is to protect them before they are exposed. I work in the OB/GYN field and I have to inform patients of positive HPV results each and every day. HPV is the most prevelant STD and most people are unaware of the great harm that this disease can create. In addition people must be informed that this vaccine only protects against 4 subtypes of High Risk HPV. Gardisil (HPV Vaccine) can help to prevent the some types of the HPV virus and we need to educate our mothers and young girls-or Cervical Cancer and Genital Warts will remain a threat to all women.

[gosterlin14]

Please let the viewers know how HPV is spread. It is not necessarly by ***. This is a vaccine for cancer. The HBV virus has been around for a long time, finally we are hearing about it. We need to protect our young women from the cancer, as we would from TB or any other virus we can get.

[mallen1438]

I really think another issue here besides the cancer is the issue of parents avoiding the "***" talk. Any parent should want to protect their child from anything humanly possible. My daughter is 15 now and even though she isn't sexually active, I had "the talk" with her at the age of 11 because the simple fact is, we don't always know where our kids are and what they are doing. So it is up to us as the parents to inform our kids as much as possible that for every action there is a reaction whether good or bad. We hear of kids as young as 11 and 12 years old having babies, and this is sad because it could ruin their lives. And also, not only of these kids consentually having *** but what about the kids who are being molested and raped, they have no say so now do they? Wake up America, times have changed and not only for the better.

[mom2aandz]

As the victim of HPV (courtesy of a wandering former spouse)and the mother of a teenage daughter, I am opposed to having her immunized until more information is available as the harmful effects down the road. She is aware of what I have, how I got it and what it's capable of. It's too late for me to get the vaccine but it's too early for her. I just would like to see where we are with this vaccine in the near future. I am whole heartedly in favor of protecting her but for now, abstinence is the best. I also think there is an important point that is being left out of the discussion. While females are the only ones who can be vaccinated, males are carriers of this virus. If a man sleeps with someone who has the virus, he is capable of passing it on to anyone he sleeps with in the future and on down the line it goes. I fear the day my former husbands wife comes forth and says she has CIN 1,2 or 3. She knows I have it but.....it was a lifestyle he chose that presented me with a gift that keeps on giving. It all goes back to "saving yourself" and not being promiscuous.

[bfrogg3]

As a current medical student at a well-known and well-respected medical instution, I wonder why the news stories about the HPV vaccine never address the issue that HPV can be contracted non-sexually. While the virus is typically associated with sexual transmission, studies have indicated it can be transmitted from mother to fetus during vaginal delivery, and it is possible to be transmitted via "fomites". That means that somebody who has the virus could touch something (a "fomite") such as a door handle, desk, etc., and somebody who touches it after them could possibly become infected. While this is not the typical route of transmission, studies indicate it is possible. Thus, the issue of the vaccine should not be considered one simply of preventing an STD, but rather preventing any type of transmission of HPV to reduce the risk of cervical cancer in coming generations - they are our future, right?

[jc55123]

I'm guessing the comments posted in favor of making your GIRLS guinea pigs for the PROFIT of MERCK come from those who dare not question anyone in authority. Here are a few Q/A's for you to consider after having taken the time to RESEARCH this 'medical miracle':
Q: Will boys be given Gardasil (the vaccine agent)?
A: Because there is no information about the effectiveness of Gardasil in boys at this time, Gardasil will only be administered to girls.
Q: What are the possible reproduction harmful effects of Gardasil?
A: From Merck's website - It is not known whether Gardasil can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or if it can affect reproductive capacity.
Q: What are the ingredients in Gardasil?
A: From Merck's website - The main ingredients are purified inactive proteins that COME FROM HPV TYPES 6, 11, 16, AND 18. It also contains amorphous aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate, sodium chloride, L-histidine, polysorborbate 80, sodium borate, and water for injection.
NOTE: For those too young to recall Thalidomide -the drug approved in the 1950's-60's to alleviate morning sickness in pregnant women - resulted in countless babies born with flipper-like arms and legs, missing fingers, toes and/or organs. Another similar drug introduced in 1983 by Merrell Dow was quickly withdrawn again with claims of birth defects.

Are you really willing to play Russian Roulette with your DAUGHTERS reproductive lives??

[carlsonns]

I work in a pathology lab and every day we process cervical biopsies and cervical cone biopsies to check for cervical cancer. Most of these are on women in their late teens and 20's, although some are much younger. It is amazing to me that a parent could be more concerned about talking to their kid(s) about *** before they (and by they I mean the parent!) are ready than they are for their children's lives. The key to preventing a child acquiring HPV is to vaccinate BEFORE they are sexually active. As much as parents might not want to believe, many junior high and high school students are sexually active. And contrary to popular belief, not only promiscuous girls catch HPV. It only takes one partner, one occurance, to be exposed. It only makes sense to protect your child by vaccinating them as early as possible. If you think you feel awkward discussing this with them before they are sexually active, think about how you and they would feel if they develop HPV and cervical cancer and you could have prevented it.

[telecomtom97]

It seems to me that there is a big part of vaccinating people missing. Everyone should be vaccinated both male and female, since males pass this on to females. This should be done as soon as is possible to protect as many people as possible. If everyone gets vaccinated it becomes more of a valid health process instead of being such a one-sided half hearted effort.

[nhbarb28]

Being a survivor of an HPV/cervical related cancer- I am in total support of this vaccine! Any woman that has been diagnosed with HPV cannot get the vaccine - it is too late for us. I think you need to treat it like any other vaccine -- it is a disease preventing vacine - end of story - no different than a small pox -- no discussion is needed!! On a side note, one needs to understand that 75% of the population has HPV and don't even know it - as their immune systems are keeping it at bay. But like any virus it can strike at anytime..
MOMS and DADS -- get your daughters vaccinated and skip the discussion!! Do you have a lenghty conversation over any other vaccine??

[jessefry]

I couldn%u2019t believe my ears tonight when the soccer mom in the lawn chair compared vaccinating her middle school-age daughter to getting a pap smear. Unbelievable.

The HPV vaccine is a remarkable advance in health care, yet this woman chooses to inject her opinion rather than the shot.

Hepatitis B virus was sexually transmitted back then, and last time I checked, it still is today. Yet I don%u2019t remember moral debate on the subject.

Was it necessary for her daughter to comprehend as an infant why she was getting a shot for diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio, before starting nursery school?

The HPV vaccine isn%u2019t about delaying our children%u2019s first sexual experience or even preserving their innocence. It%u2019s about disease irradiation.

Moms and dads should resist the urge to think about this too much, and instead, help their daughter roll up her sleeve to get the shot%u2014one that will protect her from getting a one of the deadliest kinds of cancer.

And while they are at it, ask the doctor why their son isn%u2019t being offered the same vaccine. Girls aren%u2019t getting the virus from other girls, you know.

This new HPV vaccine should be made part of routine health care for all preteens%u2014both girls and boys%u2014and the first shot should be given during the middle school visit, or before then if advisable, especially if the child is involved in contact sports.

HPV can be spread by skin-to-skin contact, too.

[xaltrebor01]

I think we can do without calling someone %u201Cidiotic%u201D. The permutations and combinations around parental integrity are infinite. Regarding Whole health and honesty is a much a boost to the immune system as any system of logic and reasoning. The Rogers have their own path to follow and maybe protecting their daughter and the whole family ecology more than an outsider can tell at first hearing.

[murphy236]

I'm wondering why the one part of HPV not being discussed is the LEEP procedure. Once diognosed with HPV, don't most women have to have a LEEP procedure done to remove the pre cancerous or cancerous cells? This is not something you would want to go through or have your daughter go through. I'm just wondering why it's not being mentioned in any of the news stories.

[bradc158]

The Rogers are just plain idiotic! The point is getting shot as early as possible, once you have been exposed the shot does no good! Even if the odds of my 9 year old daughter having *** was 1000000:1, I would still opt to get the shot...why? because she might not be having *** at 9, but she will someday and every year older increases the odds.

Why does giving the shot "require" you to even bring up "having ***", just explain to them that they are getting a shot that protects against a certian form of cancer that many women get!!!!

[schneckre]

Will I be able to see the cervical cancer vaccine segment again on-line?