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The Gardasil vaccine has been in the news a great deal within the past few years, and if you have a preteen daughter, you may very well be wondering whether this vaccine is safe enough, tested enough, and helpful enough to give your child. The vaccine is intended to prevent Cervical cancer by rendering girls immune to four types of sexually-transmitted and cancer- causing Human Papillomavirus (HPV). More than a quarter of a million women are currently killed by cervical cancer every year. If you have no prior knowledge of the safety or helpfulness of the Gardasil vaccine, these steps can help you make a more informed choice.
- Step 1: Know the risks posed by HPV, the world’s most common STD. This is not a virus your daughter will necessarily be able to avoid by keeping her sexual partners to a minimum. HPV strikes three-quarters of healthy women at some point during their lifetimes, and most men and women who are infected never realize it. While HPV sometimes causes genital warts among men and women, and very occasionally leads to genital cancers in men, it is also a common factor in cervical cancers, which often go undiagnosed until their later stages, when risk of death is greatly increased.
-Step 2: Understand the relation between HPV, cervical cancers, and HPV vaccines. Only a few of the many types of HPV cause cervical cancers. However, the particular strains of HPV that Gardasil prevents are responsible for causing 70% of cervical cancers.
-Step 3: Understand the risks: There are always risks associated with vaccination; however the risks usually involve very tiny percentages compared to the benefits of any given vaccine. While the Gardasil vaccine is relatively new, over 25 million doses have been safely administered, with a very low incidence of problems – well under 1%, and mostly very mild. If you are still concerned, however, consult more thoroughly with your doctor about any potential risks.
While some have argued that giving young girls a vaccination against a sexually transmitted disease could encourage promiscuity, the fact of the matter is that nearly all human beings will eventually become sexually active, and it is better to protect girls from serious diseases well in advance rather than assuming your teenager is going to ask your permission – and then wait to be vaccinated – before going further than she meant to with a boy. Instilling and fostering values in our children should be separate from appropriately providing them with physical and medical protections from harmful diseases. The former is a lifelong process, while the latter should be done as early as possible.
What else can I help you with?
Do you have to get a pap smear if you have the gardisal vaccine?
Yes, women who have had the Gardasil vaccine should continue getting pap smears.
Why can't you get pregnant during gardasil vaccine?
Gardasil has not been shown to cause any problems in pregnancy. However, because it is a new vaccine, it is felt women should avoid taking while pregnant if possible.For people who are pregnant, Gardasil is generally considered safe. This is based on animal studies that looked at the effects of Gardasil during pregnancy. However, Gardasil is generally not recommended during pregnancy, as the full risks of its use are not known. It is recommended to wait until after pregnancy to get the Gardasil vaccine. It has not been studied in women, only in animal trials, so it is considered Pregnancy Category B (probably safe).
Have there been any reported birth defects from women who have had the Gardasil vaccination when pregnant?
There have been none to date. However, pregnant women should not take the Gardasil vaccination becasue it is a new vaccine and all the data are not in yet. There have been limited studies on pregnant women taking it, and for now it seems to be safe, but is not recommended. Pregnant women should wait until after the birth of their child before having the vaccine. If you find out you are pregnant after taking a dose of the vaccine, wait until after the baby is born to have the other doses.
Who should receive the tetanus vaccine?
All horses should be vaccinated against tetanus.
How often should you have the hpv vaccine?
For the Gardasil vaccine, the schedule is a series of three. The second shot should be given no sooner than two months after the first, and the third no sooner than four months after the second. There is no need to restart the series if you are late getting any of the shots, no matter how long it's been.
What individuals should never receive the measles vaccine?
Measles vaccine should not be given to a pregnant woman, however, in spite of the seriousness of gestational measles.
Should you receive hepatitis vaccine while trying to conceive?
Yes, you can still receive the hepatitis vaccine while you are trying to conceive. It will not interfere with your menstrual cycle or the ability to conceive a child.
How often should an adult patient with a history of heart failure receive Trivalent influenza vaccine?
Adults should get seasonal influenza vaccine annually.
How often should a horse receive a tetanus vaccine to maintain good health?
A horse should receive a tetanus vaccine annually. This is a preventative measure, as the causative bacterium (Clostridium tetani) is ubiquitous in the environment and horses are extremely sensitive to the exotoxins that produce clinical signs of tetanus.
When should puppies receive vaccinations for distemper?
Check with your Veterinarian about his/her specific protocol, but generally puppies should get their first Distemper Vaccine at 8 weeks of age.
Can hpv vaccine be effective when people are in the age of 27?
They are doing a study to help answer this question now. The current approval age for HPV vaccine is 9-26. Logically, it should work in older people. However, one thing to consider is that the vaccine (Gardasil) covers 4 common strains of the HPV virus. As you get older, it's more likely that you're already exposed to those 4 strains. The vaccines won't help you if you're already exposed, but it probably won't harm you either.
Where should cattle be given a vaccine?
The neck should be the primary place a vaccine should be given.
