HPV vaccine

[fluffhead]

So this is where I duck my head in the sand and hide.
Our pediatrician wants to begin the hpv vaccine for dd1 at next years checkup (age 11). And they vaccinate boys as well now.
What's the conventional wisdom on this? Has it been out there long enough to prove effective? Does it cover all the viruses that cause cervical cancer?
When she was little we skipped the varicella vaccine and let her get the disease, which turned out to be a good move at that point, but obviously that's not desirable here. (the rest of the kids all got the varicella vaccine - it was way improved by then)

[v-girl]

Our ped still hasn't given it to DD13. We do plan on the kids getting it, but we're going with our ped's recommendation to wait until they are 13 or 14. I figure we'll get DD13 and DD12 done at the same time.

[HouseofWool]

I will be doing it for DS when he is old enough as well as DD.

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[peggyfromwastate]

I don't know. Dd16 got it when she was 11 or do. I guess dd10 will be getting it soon too. And prob her brother ds10 since they vaccinate boys now.

I tend to just go along with my dr recommendations-- and the doc who recommended dd16 get the shot way back when was pretty much my favorite doc of all time.

[diggitydot]

All three of our kids are DEF getting the vax.

[MDPhDWife]

DD who will be 11 in May just finished up her final dose in January. It really wasn't a question in our house.

I will say it burns like crazy and she already has a fear of needles so it was pure hell for every dose.

[Pollyanna]

Nope, we're not doing it and interestingly there are many in the OB/GYN field that aren't either. As of 2011 the vaccine was tested to be effective for up to 8 years. If you really want it for your child I would wait till they are older as the risk of HPV at 11 is practically zero.

[Sheherezade]

Just gave it to my son at 15. Hasn't been recommended to DD yet (12) but obviously with a husband in the business of looking at cervical cancer, we are vaccinating. He is strongly in favor and worked with some of the research team that developed it when he was in residency.

[Vanquisher]

We'll get it for DS at his next physical. He's 14.

[Phoebe]

If it's only effective for 8 years I'll hold off on the decision for a couple more years.

Me too. DD1 will turn 11 this year. Our ped hasn't recommended it yet.

[HouseofWool]

Hmm, our ped is very for it, apparently HPV is being implicated in certain other cancers of the head and throat as well as cervical cancer. I'm not sure that the 8 year efficacy is enough reason to not do it. Tetanus is only good for 10 years and varicella needs a booster as well. While I would prefer to opt out of varicella, it isn't an option for us because of the public school requirements. It is way to much hassle to deal with the paperwork and explanations to opt of it.

[fluffhead]

eight years??? sheesh.
I guess if I can put it off until the point where they'd be covered through their early twenties that would be the best strategy. By then it's their problem, so I only have to make the decision once. And yes, by that time there should be improvements in the vaccine as well.
In any case, I love our pediatrician, but vaccinating at 11 seems _way_ too early.

[HouseofWool]

11 does sound early. But, is it just one shot, or is it a series like MMR?

[fluffhead]

I think it's down to two shots at this point.

[Michele]

Since it's an STD you just have to vaccinate before they're sexually active right? And isn't that the reason it's been implicated in other cancers of the head and neck...transmission via oral sex?

Or am I confusing this with something else?