S., As you can tell just from your few responses there are people who feel very strongly, one way or another about this shot. You can do your research, and you should, read everything not just the info from the docs and drug companies. And to get objective info when you Google it, don't just Google 'HPV shot' or 'Gardasil' but Google "risks and dangers of . . . "
I never saw this as the 'sex shot' or the cervical cancer shot. It was just something that just didn't seem right to me when I first started hearing about it 5 years ago. The short version is that I chose NOT to vaccinate my daughter 4 years ago when it first came out and still refuse it. Mostly because when our then doctor got so nasty when I refused it (politely) when it had just been approved for 2 months at the time (and my daughter was 11) I left there on a mission to find out as much as I could.
I am a registered nurse and have worked in the pharmaceutical system. While I am NOT saying this is a routine practice, I have witnessed manipulation of data and it certainly made me question more!
First, in MY OPINION and from MY RESEARCH (that's my legal disclaimer) it is NOT a cancer prevention shot. Far from it! Actually (I can't remember the source off the top of my head but if you want it I'll get it) there is some evidence that getting this shot may actually increase the risk of pre-cancerous cervical lesions by 44%! *My hard-copy paper file on this subject is a full 8 inches thick!
I do agree with the poster about doing routine HPV tests but they should be doing that anyway and actually BEFORE they even give these shots to the little girls (and boys now). If your child has ever had a wart on their hand or a planters wart, that is a strain of HPV. Yes, most of the world's populations has already been exposed to HPV, but most of us with healthy immune systems are able to get over the virus. Even a doctor with the CDC has gone on record and stated that the greatest risk factor of developing cervical cancer is not getting pap smears! Didn't mention HPV.
And speaking of pap smears the cervical cancer rate has decreased almost 75% just since the institution of routine pap smears. Beyond not getting routine paps the other big risk factors are 1)smoking 2)multiple sex partners 3) poor nutrition and immunity and 4) the presence of another type of sexual transmitted disease.
In my research along the way I came across the transcript of the congressional hearings over the whole Vioxx scandal. Merck was also the maker of Vioxx and was found to have knowingly and willingly hide damaging data as to the risk of the drug to get it on the market.
What's that saying, 'fool me once shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me."
As I said in the beginning S., you will get many responses on both side of the fence. I hope that we can all control ourselves and not be nasty because we chose one side or the other! We all make the best decisions for our family with the information we are given.
I do have a TON of resources if you want to message me privately for any more info.
Good for you for at least asking questions. We should all be proactive and not just blindly believe what we are told. By anyone about anything!
In good health,
Updated