The CDC is now recommending just a two shot regimen for kids under 15 to vaccinate them for exposure to HPV, which is an STD that potentially leads to various forms of cancer and genital warts.
My oldest, who is now an adult didn’t get it, because it was formerly only recommended for girls. I believe that I will want my younger daughters to get the vaccine.
Yes. We got both our daughter (now 21) and son (now 18) vaccinated, probably in middle school or early in high school.
My older two didn’t get it but the 15 year old was asked if he wanted it while getting various booster shots and he said yes. I know that HPV was rampant in our rural school systems a few years back (when the older ones were in middle school/high school their girlfriends would yak with me and that was one of those “I see” moments.) So he’s covered for the 3 or 5 strains that the vax covers.
Cervarix covered 2 strains. Gardasil (more common) covered 4, but now a new Gardasil is out that covers 9 strains.
of course
Yes, both my kids have gotten the Gardasil shots. Currently ages 18 (daughter) and 15 (son).
Yes, they’re 22 and 25 now. I believe they were in the first age group where it was widely recommended.
My daughter is 12 and she had both doses administered this past year. Whatever I can do to protect her health, I will.
Yes.
I also just got my last booster in the spring (women under 52 can get it if they have never tested positive for HPV)
Yes, my two teenage sons have both been vaccinated for HPV and I plan on the same for my 10 year old son when he is 12. HPV is rampant and my decision to vaccinate my sons was less for their personal benefit and more for the public health benefit. If vaccination can interrupt its widespread transmission a lot of suffering caused by cervical cancer, pre-cancer and resulting infertility can be prevented.
I got it when I was somewhere around 12-15. But they’re giving it to infants now.
Yes, you bet. It’s the right thing to do.
Under what circumstances? In what country? ACIP says kids aren’t eligible until 9 years and it’s not recommended until 13. I don’t even think Gardasil is approved for children under the age of 9. It wasn’t when it first came out.
Hmm… never mind, maybe I’m confusing it with Hepatitis B, sorry. Both are commonly STDs, although not exclusively, so presumably HepB’s other benefits are considered necessary for children.
Googling for a cite was a web of antivax insanity :mad:
Cite? I couldn’t find anything that indicated that it should be given after age 26.
That is not an arbitrary age limit; that is the limit because certain cells, mostly in the cervix, mature at around that age, and the vaccine is minimally effective after that.
As for Hep B, it’s also transmitted through blood and saliva, and little kids are notorious for biting each other. You can’t tell by looking at someone if they have Hep B, and it’s a far more serious illness when it’s contracted by a baby or a small child.
My main issue with it being given to newborns arose when I worked at the hospital. It was offered to all newborns as part of their routine protocol, and whenever the technicians went upstairs to clean out the OB floor’s refrigerator, they would bring back dozens of doses that we would have to discard because so many of the parents refused it. Many day cares do require it, and the series is required for school attendance in my state. I’m OK with that.
That same floor also gave lots of MMRs and TDaPs to mothers, and fathers too, prior to discharge.
p.s. I do not believe that Gardasil should be mandatory, except for legal sex workers in areas which do that.
All four of my kids have received it. They range in age from 19 to 12.
I can’t find a source for women over age 45 and I’m interested to read more about it (being 46).
Oh yes.
Absolutely not. It wasn’t available until 2006 and my kids were their 20s.
My nephews aren’t old enough yet, but I understand it’s in the plans, big time.
I think it’s included in the same yearly campaign which gives boosters to every child and the rubella vaccine to the girls. It’s not in the required calendar but it’s given by default.