Solitary chicken - need advice

[clootie]

I'd be very interested to hear the opinions of my fellow omleteers in relation to this subject.

 

A couple of weeks ago my 12 year old daughter came home from school with a consent form which had to be signed and handed in 48 hours later in order for her to have this vaccination.

 

Now, maybe it's me, but I had only seen 2 TV adverts regarding this and I felt that I needed to do some of my own research into the clinical trials etc before deciding whether this was something that I wanted my daughter to have, so, I sent the form back unsigned with my concerns written on the back. I really felt I was being rushed into a decision. Now having done some research I feel it's not something I would want her to have anyway but it seems I am the only parent expressing concerns as every other 12 year old girl in my daughters class will be vaccinated. I have no problem being out on a limb here as I feel my decision is the right one with regard to my daughter and I totally understand why most parents would go ahead but my main gripe is the lack of information offered and the speed in which big brother wanted signed consent forms returned.

 

It seems they will be vaccinating boys in the future too..............

[The Dogmother]

I've been pondering on this too Clootie, Rosie isn't old enough, but a friend recently had to have major surgery, followed by radiotherapy after having cervical cancer. She had been infected at some time by the HPV virus (unbeknown to her)... and no, she's not at all promiscuous... and as the NHS only does cervical smears every 3 years, the problem went undetected for all that time and had developed alarmingly with no real symptoms to warn her.

 

I am as concerned as anybody about the medical consequences of this vaccination, and fully intend to lecture my daughter about sexual responsibility and safe sex (one of my pet topics) when she is old enough. But my friend's experience has determined me to make sure that she does get the injection.... it is too much of a lottery otherwise.

[clootie]

But this vaccine only protects against the two most common viruses. There are over 100. Regular smear tests are still a requirement

[Willow]

I'm a big fan of vaccination and I do feel part of the success of vaccination programs means people have forgotten how devastating some of the diseases can be so they feel they aren't that necessary,

but...

 

48hrs to make an informed decision for such a new vaccine is too quick a turnaround IMO

 

I'm in favour of the vaccine but they need to ensure parents don't feel coerced into it.

[clootie]

I'm a big fan of vaccination and I do feel part of the success of vaccination programs means people have forgotten how devastating some of the diseases can be so they feel they aren't that necessary

 

If that's in relation to the MMR, then yes I agree totally but I'm just not convinced about the vaccination for cervical cancer. I am more than willing to listen to arguments for and against, I may even change my opinion but I have a niggling feeling about it and it just won't go away. I feel it is still a lottery, vaccinated or not.

 

Oh and did I mention that not only did I have 48 hrs to decide but I was told that the vaccination wasn't available from my GP !! Now or never eh?

[The Dogmother]

But this vaccine only protects against the two most common viruses. There are over 100. Regular smear tests are still a requirement

 

Oh, I totally agree

[clootie]

Well the whole thing scares me to death whatever decision I make !! You beat yourself up no matter what.

[jess]

Ok so who was in charge of sending out the consent forms though? The school or the government. two days is not really long enough to decide in my opinion.

[Egluntyne]

My daughter is old enough to make her own decisions about these issues, so I haven't had to ponder on this one.

 

After reading up briefly by googling, I think on balance I'd be inclined to go for it.

 

If daft Jade Goody has achieved anything by being a "celebrity", it is to draw the attention of the public to the very real and devastating effects of cervical cancer.

 

Of the 100 or so viruses, only 13 cause cancer apparently...the others are harmless or cause warts.

[clootie]

Of the 100 or so viruses, only 13 cause cancer apparently...the others are harmless or cause warts.

 

That's 11 not vaccinated against .............. my stomach is in knots every time I think about this.

[Egluntyne]

True, but you are still improving the odds as the two HPV viruses included in the vaccine are the strains which cause cervical cancer in over 70% of women.

 

The vaccine plus a sensible approach to safe sex should ensure maximum protection.

 

This is a very important subject. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.

[Cinnamon]

Well, my girls are too old for the first wave of vaccinations, but they will be having them in the next couple of years.

Like Claret I have seen the devastating consequences of cervical cancer first hand & my 2 will certainly be vacinated.

 

But,that said,I have already read up on the vaccine in newspapers & online.If I hadn't then there would be no way I could make a decision like that in 48 hours.

[chickenanne]

My understanding of the medical risk of the HPV vaccine is that the main issue is vaccinated women may feel that they no longer need a smear test: untrue as there are many strains of HPV.

HPV could be prevented by safe sex anyway: there's no vaccine against many other STD's, after all.

Not everyone infected with the "cancer causing" HPV strain goes on to develop cancer.

The vaccine does not cover all HPV which have been linked to cancer.

You have to be vaccinated before being exposed to HPV for it to work.

I'm not convinced that the effectiveness of the vaccine vs the costs to the NHS (not just of the vaccine, but of advertising etc too) makes it worthwhile; after all there are many treatments which prolong life which are not available ont eh NHS due to shortage of funds.

I personally think that if the HPV vaccine is to be offered at all then it would be better if consent forms were given to parents a couple of weeks beforehand, with no expenditure on advertising as this is not the best use of NHS funds.

[Seagazer]

Hmm that is a tricky one, on the one hand anything you do to cut the chance of cervical cancer is good but as you say its not a long time to be able to form an opinion.

 

My daughter is also too old to be included but I think I would want her to have it. My sister has had pre-cancerous cells and a friend had to have a cone something or other (over 20 years ago so can't remember).

 

My old practice nurse always said that she thinks every 3 years is not often enough and that we should come in to the surgery and say that we have a problem down there and get the smear test done more regularly.

[rachel19]

I am 23 and would like to have this vaccine done but it is not offered to those over 18 and if I do want to have it done i have to pay £300-£400 As a student I just can't afford this and i object that the government doesn't think people over the age of 18 aren't worth vaccinating - we're still at risk and it could still be prevented but not according to them apparently

[ali-s]

I agree 48 hours to make a decison is not long enough.

 

Natalie (13 years old) had her second jab at school today. There has been lots of TV adverts for the vaccination in our TV region. Natalie brought home the consent form and lots of information on the vaccination and cervical cancer well before the summer school holidays and I think we returned the form a few days before she broke up. Her first jab was done when she went back to school in early August.

 

Natalie decided herself that she wanted the vaccination after reading the information leaflets. Natalie has just told me that all the girls between the age of 12 years and 17 years have had the jab at school if they signed the consent form.

[clootie]

Didn't I read somewhere that they are considering offering it to women up to the age of 26 years?

[alih]

Yes they will roll it out over a period of time. My daughter had her first jab yesterday. I am very much in favour, but we had the information and consent form sent home in the first week of September so have had time to think about it. Anything that assists in the protection of our children must be a good thing and I am reassured by the medics I know, all of whom are having their kids vaccinated.

[Cooks]

I have two boys so not something I have to consider for them, however I would not hesitate to vaccinate them if they were girls, even if it only vaccinated for a small portion of the viruses that would be ok after all the meningitis vaccine only vaccinates against only one type of meningitis but we do, I presume, still all vaccinate them. It's just about cutting down the risks and giving you 'more eggs in your basket' as a dear friend used to tell me.

[Karen & co.]

I have two boys so not something I have to consider for them, .

 

 

I think it will be for boys too eventually The other thing is that HPV can be caught without the need for intercourse I think, so even safe sex isn't a guarantee to be safe against passing on HPV.

 

Oh is keen to get our girls vaccinated when it's available for them ED is in yr 10 so will have to wait, and YD in yr 6 so will be vaccinated in a couple of years. Not sure about the boys

 

Karen x

[Chicken Licken]

At the school I work in the notice to families was quite short - for once not because of us but because of the school nurses/ pct who organise these things. The immunisation was offered to all year 8s and year13 girls. I think the take up was pretty good. My year 11s (16 yr olds) needed reassurance that the reason they weren't getting the injection was because no one believed they hadn't lost their virginity already . I told them they will get the immunisation shortly when more vaccine becomes available (I think this is the case!!!) Clootie you can always get your daughter the immunisation via her GP later on if you decided between you that this was what you want to do. Having lost my first friend from cancer before she was 30 years old I would do anything that was likely to reduce the risks.

[Chickvic]

This is an interesting thread, my DD is 11 (today ) so she will be offered this next year. I think she will have it but I will show her all the information available and discuss it with her. I do feel that the protection it offers (however small) will be worth it.

[ChrisP]

I personally feel being vacinated against 2/13 (or whatever the figure is ) is better than nothing, so I will be having my three jabs in the next 6 months

[keyhole kate]

I have just caught up with this thread

my DD will be 16 soon and as I know very little

about this vaccination program other than having seen

a couple of TV adverts, having received nothing

from school I can only assume she is too old for this current

Vaccination? she has had every Vaccination

to date even the MMR my thoughts being the consequences

from the diseases out weighed the possible risks associated

with the vaccinations but not without knowing all the facts

first.

Ultimately as parents we have to make difficult and

tough decisions and choices for our children, until we are

Confident that they are mature enough to make informed decisions

for themselves. However like Clootie I would not be prepared to give

my consent to my DD being vaccinated against anything with such

short notice and without being able to consider the appropriate information only

then would I be prepared to make such a decision.

[Cooks]

I think it will be for boys too eventually

 

yes but not as yet, so until that time comes I dont have to worry. although my friend has three girls so I will be discussing this with her over coffee on friday.