It is a recommendation.

You are not required to get the vaccine.

Even Gov. Perry had an opt out clause.

About 1/3 of young people are getting the vaccine now.

And that will continue to rise.

But some people don't get measles, polio, or mumps vaccines, so I wouldn't expect the to get this one either.

The best answer is liability. You avoid the vaccine and then spread measles, you should have to pay for the costs of those that get it from you.

(Luckily, it will mostly only infect others without the vaccine - but what about babies? Several have died from Whooping Cough. They can't get the vaccine. Not getting that vaccine and spreading that disease is no less negligent than driving drunk.)

But HPV vaccines are still your choice.

Perhaps you could be more considerate to others and help prevent the spread of these cancers by getting the vaccine?

The most important word in the release is "recommendation". As long as parents have all information required for an intelligent decision and are not forced to submit their children to this there is no cause for alarm.

I totally agree with Future History! This vaccine is fairly new and I can't believe people are that trusting of the pharmaceutical companies or the FDA, to willingly offer up their children (who don't have a say in the matter) as guinea pigs!

How many other drugs have been taken off the market because of unforseen side effects and/or death from adverse reactions? Makes me laugh that people bitch and moan about giving their kids vaccines which have been around for years, but then think nothing of giving their kids that 'extra' protection for when they're sexually active.

How about teaching young people to be morally and sexually responsible...use a condom...and don't screw everything in sight!

Over my dead body.

Or more accurately over your son's dead body.

This shot PREVENTS your child from getting and passing along the most dangerous HPV strains.

Here's what your refusal gives your son:

1 - Possibility of Oral Cancer due to infection by HPV

2 - Possibility of his eventual wife or girlfriend getting HPV from him when he's infected (most people get infected eventually), and then her dying of cervical cancer.

I'm sooooooo glad that you are basically risking doom for your child simply because you either think that your child will somehow interpret it as a license for sexual activity or because you beleive in the totlaly disproven conspiracy theories that vaccines cause autism, etc, etc,

Let me think: Risking killing my own child because I'm an idiot... I ain't going to let that happen.

scare tactic for greedy people with ways of deception. You people are pathetic scared cowards that would take a pill if you thought it would help your pathetic lives and then you got all the answers with your drug addictions feeding legal and illegal corruption

Do some research people. This vaccine is not nearly as effective as you are giving it credit for, and it has to be readministered periodically. That is what's called a reoccuring dividend for Big Pharma. On top of that, many little girls have been killed or seriously harmed by this very vaccine. Why is it that when idiots here the word "vaccine", they automatically consider it to be a good thing? This is a harmful virus that you are trusting to be sufficiently weakened with toxins and put directly into your bloodstream. It has an actual history of causing harm, and yet people are lining up to expose their innocent kids to it. Sad.

Ryan--if you get the vaccine you can't get infected. Those who do not get the vaccine assume the risks that they could get the virus correct?

Marine--the risks are severe if you are one who has a "bad" reaction to it, far worse than not having the virus to begin with huh? These have not been totally dis-proven as you state get your facts correct. What a sap and sheep you are to shoot you child up with this crap.

Ok, you actually post an amazingly absurd charge like this vaccine has caused DEATHS and you have not one piece of evidence to back it up?? Michelle Bachman...is that you?? Did you miss the part where this is "voluntary"?? So sad is right...scary ignorance is already threatening lives in this country as MEASLES begins to make a comeback.

I hear you. Look whats in the headlines today, "

Possible study of anthrax vaccine’s effectiveness in children stirs debate.

www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/possible-study-of-anthrax-vaccines-effectiveness-in-children-stirs-debate/2011/10/13/gIQAFWLdDM_print.html

FormerMarineSgt - Great post!

Future History - You are simply writing lies and perpetuating falsehoods. Saying that "many little girls have been killed or seriously harmed by this very vaccine" is simply not true.

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/vaccines/hpv/gardasil.html

Deaths

As of September 15, 2011, there have been a total 71 VAERS reports of death among those who have received Gardasil^®. There were 57 reports among females, 3 were among males, and 11 were reports of unknown gender. Thirty four of the total death reports have been confirmed and 37 remain unconfirmed due to no identifiable patient information in the report such as a name and contact information to confirm the report. A death report is confirmed (verified) after a medical doctor reviews the report and any associated records. In the 34 reports confirmed, there was no unusual pattern or clustering to the deaths that would suggest that they were caused by the vaccine and some reports indicated a cause of death unrelated to vaccination.

Face it, people are against this vaccine because it prevents something that can be transmitted through sex. Talking about Sex freaks out parents.

I'm sure when there will eventually be a vaccine against HIV, stupid parents will prevent their kids from getting the vaccine by stating, "My child would NEVER get AIDS!"

If your son gets oral cancer or any of the cancers caused by HPV because you preventing him from getting the vaccine when he could, let's see if you can look in his eyes without wanting to turn back the clock and make the right decision...

The immune memory of this antigen is actually long, but all acquired immunities to all pathogens - whether from a vaccine or survival of the illness - have an expiration date. This vaccine has something called a booster schedule, where you have to get 3 shots of it over time to make it finally stick.

Every vaccine goes through safety trials before it reaches the market. Think about it: what costs more in the long run - skimping on safety standards or a massively publicized recall due to horrible death from vaccination? Surely you can spend the few extra bucks to make sure the vaccine is at least safe before you put it out. The very nature of a vaccine makes it so safety is absolutely necessary for the thing to even be used.

Finally, and this is the real clincher here, HPV vaccine is a Virus-Like Particle. Viruses are usually hollow balls of protein that surround the viral genome and other stuff necessary for the virus to be an actual virus that infects people.

Virus Like Particles are simply those protein shells that are manufactured and constructed without the genome stuff inside that's necessary for the virus to cause disease. They look like a virus to us and to our immune system, but if you crack one open, there's nothing in there. It's an empty shell that can in no way kill people. It's not even a virus.

There are a lot of other methods that have been proven safe by trials that use actual virus, but we can't even argue about that here because in this case there is no virus and absolutely zero possibility of infection.

Does anyone else think that this was voted a 'recommended' versus 'required' vaccination so that parents could make the decision for their children based on their families history and if they decide to vaccinate their children this will be covered by insurance instead of an out-of-pocket expense. It's very simple, make the best decision for your family but don't dictate what others should or shouldn't do.

Why would any parent of any 11 year old make an assumption that they will get a sexually transmitted disease ?

Rick Perry's problem wasn't that he gave an opt out, it was that he ordered every little girle to be protected against an STD with an opt out, rather than offering the drug with an opt in.

That is silly. "risking doom" for passing on a new vaccine that has had many reports of adverse effects, which include death?

Then you want to accuse parents who decide not to risk a new vaccine as idiots? Hey, you are free to make your decisions about your childs medical procedures. But there are good reasons why a parent will want to say NO to this vaccine. Name calling is just silly. If you feel comfortable with your choice, great. But don't go all hollier-than-thou about it. Your son may end up with a vaccine injury. Then you would feel like an idiot for trusting the corporate machine that is pushing this on our children so they can double their 800 million dollar annual profits.

The Truth About Gardasil

According to a 2006 report to the international group Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), Gardasil and Cervarix (GlaxoSmithKline's two-strain HPV vaccine) are only effective in young women and men (boys are now approved to receive HPV vaccine) who have never been infected with HPV.

According to Merck's package insert on Gardasil, the end-point in its clinical trials for the vaccine's efficacy, or effectiveness, was NOT cancer, but instead was the presence, or non-presence, of vaccine-relevant pre-cancerous lesions (CIN 2/3).

There is absolutely no proof, and no clinical trials that show Gardasil protects against cancer in the long-term.

In fact, in clinical trials, Gardasil's protection against cell dysplasia leveled off at four years, and clinical trial participants were given afourth dose to boost the number of antibodies measured in the blood (immunogenicity) of those who got the vaccine. This is the efficacy being reported by Merck, even though the vaccine series is marketed as three shots, not four.

And, according to Dr. Diane Harper, a lead researcher for Gardasil, its efficacy against genital warts is only two years.

Additionally, according to the manufacturer's package insert:

• Gardasil does not eliminate the necessity for pap screening
• It does not treat active infections, lesions or cancers
• And it may not result in protection for all vaccinees

An outstanding question is whether the mass use of Gardasil (and Cervarix) by all girls and boys will put pressure on other HPV strains not contained in the vaccines to become more dominant and perhaps more virulent in causing cervical cancer.

The "replacement" effect has happened with other infectious organisms that have developed resistance to vaccines used on a mass basis, such as pertussis (whooping cough) and pneumococcal vaccines.

You can also feel like an idiot if your son gets cancer as a result of HPV infection because you listened to some random person on the internet.

Recently there was a few cases of whooping cough (Pertussis) on Long Island and there was cause for alarm. What they found is that the children who got and spread the disease WERE ALL VACCINATED! You CANNOT garuantee that a person will or will not get a disease simply because they got a certain vaccination. I'd rather not risk the side effects of an injection that your body cannot reject. Good luck to those who do opt in.

So your kids are going to be a priest or nun?

It's your ilk that causes diseases to spread b/c of your narrow-mindedness.

Berk: so did you READ the Washington Post story?? It's in no way vindication for those chicken littles who cnstantly rail against immunizations as being linked to everything from pimples to death. It's actually a VINDICATION of the scientific process. Anthrax vaccines have NOT been tested on children. The discussion is about wehther to wait for the worst to see whether those vaccines are effective in children, or to begin trials.

So you are making a conscious choice to let your kids have the opportunity to catch the gift of a lifetime and get genital warts? I swear you conspiracy theorists would rather freaking live in caves than make progress in this world. Maybe if you had a case of warts you would change your mind and wish you had the opportunity to have had the vaccine. Idiots I swear...

dirp101 -

Since many are carriers, but show no symptoms - your son could get it, then infect his wife and she could become sterile, or worse.

He could literally just have a couple of sexual partners.

The HPV virus is related to herpes. (Some people have recurring cold sores from a related herpes virus).

This isn't like AIDS, even kissing can spread it.

Unlike other drugs, vaccines have proven to be very safe and effective at saving lives.

From reading people's comments, you get the feeling that if 1 person died from a vaccine reaction, that would somehow outweigh 1000 people who do not die from the disease it prevents.

Under Perry, Texas also passed a law that mandates College students get a meningitis vaccine.

Sure, only a person or two on average die a year from it in Texas, but the vaccine has killed no one.

I don't like Gov't meddling in my life, but I can weigh cost vs. benefit - and for vaccines, it's a no brainer.

(Not the same for drugs in general)

It's your ilk that causes diseases to spread b/c of your narrow-mindedness.

And it's your ilk that pays million dollar salaries to careless, greedy pharmaceutical executives. Sadly, you will probably be the first in line for the class-action lawsuit after you allowed one of them to poison your child.

Future History - You have class warfare on the brain.

Do you really think we would have 1/100 of the drugs we now have without a profit motive?

If I couldn't get paid for working - I wouldn't. Then who's tax dollars would fund your handouts?

Ryan - having a profit motive is not the same as using fear and intimidation on the general public to extort enormous profits. Big Pharma has a proven history of using every tactic in the book to get into your pocket and dose you ineffective and potentially harmful meds. Sadly, humans eat that @!$%# up ... even when the companies are forced to disclose all the ridiculously harmful side effects on a commercial. By the way, 99% of the meds on the market are about as effective as a placebo or diet/lifestyle change to begin with - but with some clever manipulation of the poorly monitored testing procedures it gets blessed by the FDA and mass marketed to people like you.

Then who's tax dollars would fund your handouts?

And what handouts might those be? Stupid and severely inaccurate assumption.

Future History - "By the way, 99% of the meds on the market are about as effective as a placebo or diet/lifestyle change to begin with"

Dream on.

Do you really think that?

If you do, then why do you even care? You obviously won't be buying any products produced by our world leading Pharmaceutical companies.

So you won't be needing any medicine, right? Let me guess, whatever medicine YOU need is the 1%?

Please. People have pains, illnesses, injuries. That's life.

But if you think for one second things would be better 300 years ago, you might need some drugs for your brain.

Are there some medicines that seem frivolous? Sure. There are medicines for dry eyes. But I don't have that condition - so who am I to say what is frivolous?

As for the placebo effect - they had snake oil (or some other name) 300 years ago. Yet for some reason, people find modern drugs far more effective.

It just seems to me like your blind hate for anything made by a corporation might get you in trouble some day.

Reminds me of Steve Jobs, thinking he knew better than his doctors... he ended up regretting that.

Bet you sing a different tune when you are in the ER, or in this case, if your daughter got cervical cancer.

But I would always defend your right to choose your own way. The burden of freedom is other people's freedom.

Ryan - the 99% was a facetious response to your claim that 1% of drugs are developed with profit as the sole focus. However, a more realistic number would be 85%.

http://douglassreport.com/2010/09/22/85-percent-ineffective-drugs/

You obviously won't be buying any products produced by our world leading Pharmaceutical companies.

Well let's see ... when is the last time you saw an ad on tv for a prescription drug that didn't use up 30 seconds listing possible side effects like intestinal bleeding, liver failure, increased thoughts of suicide, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of consciousness, and my favorite - in rare instances death. So, no - I realize that my restless legs are far easier to deal with than some chemically induced illness provided from our friends at Big Pharma, and most likely not even covered by my prescription plan. It is also becoming common knowledge that "healthy" blood pressure and cholesterol levels are set in a range that is aimed to sell meds. In other words, by setting the bar low enough that millions of healthy people will naturally surpass it, these companies can make billions of dollars dosing them with a lifetime of expensive meds that will do less good than bad for the individuals who take them.

As for the placebo effect - they had snake oil (or some other name) 300 years ago. Yet for some reason, people find modern drugs far more effective.

Ummm - the whole idea of a placebo is that you don't know that it is a placebo. If the placebo subjects feel better in a double blind test, then the med is worthless. The common tactic is to massage the resulting data to skew it in a manner that makes it appear effective. This is done so that these corporations can recoup R&D dollars for a failed med. There is even a current trend for doctors to knowingly perscribe a placebo prescription, because some people are so sold on the effectiveness of a pill for anything that ails them, that they are convinced they feel better.

But if you think for one second things would be better 300 years ago, you might need some drugs for your brain.

Nobody is saying that. What I am saying is that the system is flawed, and that the FDA and CDC are allowing corporations to prey on everybody by using health scares to herd people into using ineffective, poorly tested and sometimes dangerous drugs, devices and procedures.

It just seems to me like your blind hate for anything made by a corporation might get you in trouble some day.

Gee, could you possibly stretch that psychoanalysis any further off course? You sound like an Obama-hating, union-busting, bitter republican. Is that fair?

But I would always defend your right to choose your own way. The burden of freedom is other people's freedom.

As do I. However, I should hope that you would educate yourself on who the players are behind the development of anything you are assuming will be in your best health interest. You might be surprised.

The placebo effect is accounted for when assessing differences between control groups and experimental groups. People in control groups should experience placebo effects, because drugs that remain significantly more effective even when compared to the improved outcome generated by a fake pill are a lot more valid in treating whatever condition they're used for.

Drugs are recalled all the time because they're ineffective - some drugs are even recalled even though they make the patient feel better because they don't extend the lifespan enough. The majority of drugs out there that are prescribed by doctors are ones that survived the continual rigors of FDA approval and barrages of tests to find a flaw in their efficacy.

In fact, some drugs are so good that they're actually losing corporations money. These drugs are designed so well that further improvement is not necessary, so the patent runs out and they become generic, which drives down the price precipitously. Pharmaceutical corporations try to rehash these same drugs with enough changes to renew the patent, but time is running out for a lot of staple drugs used to great effect. They try to advertise the new drugs even though the formulation is pretty much equal to the generic. Why would they do this if the drugs were ineffective?

Pharmaceutical corporations try to rehash these same drugs with enough changes to renew the patent, but time is running out for a lot of staple drugs used to great effect. They try to advertise the new drugs even though the formulation is pretty much equal to the generic.

Or they expand the scope of who is considered a reasonable candidate for the drug, whereby the FDA then allows them a 6 month extension of the patent. How shameful is it that a pharmaceutical, which throughout the life of its original patent was not considered suitable for children, miraculously becomes a wonderful choice of treatment for children just before the patent runs out? Are we supposed to think that this is coincidental? Of course not - it is 100% about greed, and 0% about concern for who is taking it.

Why would they do this if the drugs were ineffective?

Not all drugs are ineffective, just the vast majority. Some drugs are effective, but thoroughly overused, thus leading to medical problems that could have been avoided. Aspirin and Tylenol are good examples. These OTC drugs destroy your stomach lining and harm your liver (amongst many other negatives) if taken routinely, but the common consumer takes for granted that they can avoid heart attacks by thinning their blood with daily aspirin, and that any headache or pain should be squashed with tylenol, no matter how manageable the pain is. There are non-pharmaceutical ways of treating these conditions, thereby not subjecting yourself to even deadlier susequent conditions. Prescription pain killers are now so overused that they have surpassed illegal street drugs in terms of overdose deaths.

While condom use is important and should not be discounted in any way, it does not provide adequate protection against HPV. The condom doesn't cover the entire area affected.

Ah so facts mean nothing here?

Just because it costs too much (all new drugs do dipstick) means it's not worth doing.

Great reason to sentence your children to potential death and/or suffer greatly from cancer.

unbeleivable.

How many people are suffering from side affects of drugs on the market that didn't go through enough testing. Where do you think most of these new diseases are coming from. I haven't had a flu shot in over twenty years, guess what I haven't had the flu either.

Facts? What death of 70 girls? Show us the facts. Since the media likes to print anything and everything the least bit negative and then blow it up, up, up I'm sure this would have hit somewhere.

Ah, so now that its recommended for BOYS, it didn't go through enough testing??? Where the heck have you been? (seriously?? You think you DIDN'T get the flu because you didn't have a flu shot?? Please tell me you do not have any authority over anyone underage.

Marine--Who will pay for these inherent cost for those who can't afford it?? Do you let you children go outdoors because of all the risks to them? Keeping them protected as you suggest does not allow them to live their lives to the fullest. You sir are unbelievable and unable to think for yourself. Maybe you should volunteer as a human guinea pig?

Alumet, are you on any prescription meds or is any of your family? Far more research and thought go into the development of meds than the thought you put into your blog....Thank God. You are just another one of the misinformed that wants to blame everything on big pharma and the government.

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/vaccines/hpv/gardasil.html

Deaths

As of September 15, 2011, there have been a total 71 VAERS reports of death among those who have received Gardasil^®. There were 57 reports among females, 3 were among males, and 11 were reports of unknown gender. Thirty four of the total death reports have been confirmed and 37 remain unconfirmed due to no identifiable patient information in the report such as a name and contact information to confirm the report. A death report is confirmed (verified) after a medical doctor reviews the report and any associated records. In the 34 reports confirmed, there was no unusual pattern or clustering to the deaths that would suggest that they were caused by the vaccine and some reports indicated a cause of death unrelated to vaccination.

Well, when it comes to cost I can assure you that the vaccine is less expensive than treating HPV. Women who have HPV run a high risk of abnormal pap smears - pap smears that show a pre-cancerous change. Every time a pap smear comes back showing a pre-cancerous change, the patient needs to get a colposcopy which is, essentially, a biopsy of the area. It is painful and it can be expensive. Because women who have HPV are at a higher risk for developing cervical cancer, its recommended that they get a pap done every six months.

That means that every six months many HPV patients have to go in and get a pap and THEN return for the colposcopy.

Talk about expensive! And that's not even accounting for HPV patients who eventually get cervical cancer...

Say what you will about Gardasil, but arguing on the basis of cost will get you no where. Personally, I wish this vaccine had been invented when I was in high school. It would have spared me years of painful exams and biopsies, not to mention future concerns about having children and cervical cancer.

Anyone who is against this vaccine clearly hasn't had to deal with HPV.

PH-3046605 -

You are correct. The cost of the vaccine is cheaper than being treated for HPV. I chose to have my daughters get this vaccine because I face years of treatment because of exposure to HPV that my ex-husband had no idea to passed onto me. I found out in a routine PAP.

What you mention, I have been doing since 2007. It sucks and I would not wish this on my daughters.

AP, you still nursing? Please tell me you still don't live at home. Don't you know that staring at that computer can cause cancer. How many people have been diagnosed with the flu after receiving the injection?

How many people have been diagnosed with the flu after receiving the injection?

This actually isn't a failure of the vaccine (always). It's that there are many different influenza antigens. There are several organizations that determine which version of the flu is most likely to be seen this year - and the vaccine is based on this. Sometimes they are right in their predictions, other times, they aren't right. Also, even if they got the combination right, some people get infected with a flu vaccine that wasn't predicted to be prevalent for that year. In other words, many people that truly get influenza virus after being vaccinated for that year, are actually infected with an influenza virus that is slightly different than the target of the vaccine.

Hi Rebecca,

I'm happy that your daughters (and other kids) are able to get the vaccine. And sorry to hear you are going through the same thing. It really does suck!

I never was a big believer in the flu shot until I got it last year.

(Got the Flu, that is).

In the long history of man, it is one of the top killers. You can get complications easily.

Thankfully, I just felt like absolute CR&P for a week.

Just imagine how much you would be kicking yourself if you skip this vaccine and then get cervical cancer.

I am glad, too. I caught HPV and I'm fairly young. My BF has been my only partner, and he only had two other partners before him; he caught HPV from one. Some clinics also do not test for HPV in men, as he went to a clinic and they told him he was "clean" (he got re-tested after he broke up with his last partner) even though he gave HPV to me.

Had the shots been promoted, maybe I and my BF wouldn't have gotten infected. He would have gotten the shots years ago.

You are sadly misinformed!! Cassandra. DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE YOU PLAY RUSSIAN ROULETTE WITH YOUR CHILD'S LIFE!! DO YOUR HOMEWORK!!!! People have died as a result of this vaccine! People have been severely injured due to this vaccine. If you are going to gamble WITH YOUR SON'S LIFE!!! at least do it while being informed. The vaccine and drug companies are multi-billion dollar companies and don't think for a minute that they don't use those billions to lobby to those panels to convince them to approve their product regardless of safety concerns. There are many other countries who have BANNED the hpv vaccines due to safety concerns after injuries and deaths. Don't be wowed by someone's grad certificate on the wall. Who do you think gives money to the educational institutions spitting out doctors? The drug and vaccine companies! So, of course, your doc is going to say "oh it's perfectly safe."

Some people just can't wait to drink the kool-aid!

Laura GET A CLUE!!! I was 23 when diagnosed with HPV and CERVICAL CANCER! This disease can KILL your children. 80% of adults have some form of HPV by the time they are in there 50's. That is a fact!!!! I wish I had been able to get vaccinated I now have to worry for the rest of my life that the cancer will return. I am sure that many other vaccinations have probably been fatal in a few. Or maybe you are with one of those religious cults that does not believe in being vaccinated for anything! I know more about this subject than most Dr.'s do and believe me people get your children vaccinated.

From the Center for Disease Control site - as regards vaccine POSSIBLE related deaths..... parents have to decide and weigh in on the benefits of a rampantly spread STD - no do-overs, if you get it, it's a virus, you're stuck with it. So I got my daughter the vaccinations when it came out - asked for it, did not wait for the doctor to get around to it.

CDC excerpt- "As of September 15, 2011, there have been a total 71 VAERS reports of death among those who have received Gardasil^®. There were 57 reports among females, 3 were among males, and 11 were reports of unknown gender. Thirty four of the total death reports have been confirmed and 37 remain unconfirmed due to no identifiable patient information in the report such as a name and contact information to confirm the report. A death report is confirmed (verified) after a medical doctor reviews the report and any associated records. In the 34 reports confirmed, there was no unusual pattern or clustering to the deaths that would suggest that they were caused by the vaccine and some reports indicated a cause of death unrelated to vaccination."...

Oops - just saw that "sad" posted this same site info above.

Aleitha -

Per my doctor, men cannot be tested for HPV, unless they get a PAP of their rear end. They can be tested for Herpes. Usually men do not realize they have HPV unless they get Gential warts, penile cancer or anal cancer.

Laura, drug companies make a heck of a lot more money treating cancer than they do preventing it. Millions of girls (and boys) have been vaccinated, and a very small percentage have had bad reactions. All new drugs and vaccines undergo rigorous testing for safety and side effects, so it's not like we have no knowledge of the risks of this vaccine. In order for it to be approved by the FDA, the vaccine has to show that it is beneficial (via statistical analysis and controlled studies). Not like it matters to you, though.

@Rebecca: That sucks. If doctors are pushing this vaccine, can't they at least also discover a way to to detect HPV in men? It would be very, very useful.

Unbelievable.

It's proven that HPV causes cancer.

It's proven that this vaccine protects un-infected people from getting these strains of HPV.

It's proven that if you don't get these particular strains of HPV your risk of certain cancers drop to damm near zero.

Having ALL children immunized against these strains of HPV prevents MANY MANY incidents of cancer and resulting cancer deaths.

There is no evidence of the 'deaths and retardation' that idiots try to get us to believe. IN FACT the rates of severe problems IS LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO RANDOM SAMPLES OF UN-VACCINATED PEOPLE. Go look it up instead of spewing the lies of the anti-vaccine idiots.

What part of not being an idiot are you blatantly ignoring here?

It is important to distinguish between HPV and cancer: Just because you currently have HPV, or may have had the infection in the past, does NOT mean you have cancer or will get cancer.

HPV is NOT cancer. It is a viral infection that can lead to cancer in some people if the virus does not naturally clear from your body, as it does for most people within two years.

Some high risk factors for developing chronic HPV infection are:

• Smoking
• Co-infection with herpes, Chlamydia or HIV
• Long term birth control use
• Multiple births

In the US, infection with HPV is very common, and it is estimated that about 20 million Americans have an HPV infection at any given time. In fact, HPV is so common that most sexually active people will get it at some time in their lives.

The important thing to know about HPV is that in almost all cases, it clears up on its own without any adverse health effects within two years in most healthy people.

again marine-sheep speaks. You being an ex-marine should defend our right to not have our children forcibly vaccinated against our will as a parent I should decide what is good for "my" child and not YOU or anyone else.

No one is forcing anyone to get this vaccine. Your utter paranoia about this is disturbing.

Vaccines have save the lives of children from diseases that have killed millions. We now have a way to end a type of cancer. Are you willing to take the risk that your son or daughter won't get it. If you are, that's fine. Just don't come crying when your son or daughter gets the cancer later and hates you.

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/vaccines/hpv/gardasil.html

Deaths

As of September 15, 2011, there have been a total 71 VAERS reports of death among those who have received Gardasil^®. There were 57 reports among females, 3 were among males, and 11 were reports of unknown gender. Thirty four of the total death reports have been confirmed and 37 remain unconfirmed due to no identifiable patient information in the report such as a name and contact information to confirm the report. A death report is confirmed (verified) after a medical doctor reviews the report and any associated records. In the 34 reports confirmed, there was no unusual pattern or clustering to the deaths that would suggest that they were caused by the vaccine and some reports indicated a cause of death unrelated to vaccination.

There are limits to parental control over children, specifically in the areas where these decisions actually harm the child. You can decide that cigarette burns are an appropriate punishment for a child, but that does not give you protection from the fact that you're harming another human being and that the government is perfectly within its rights to take the child away from you in that instance.

No parent has absolute control over any child.

Laws - backed by numerous Supreme Court decisions - uphold parental rights and responsibilities where children are concerned. Unless the parent is recklessly endangering the health and welfare of the child, by acts or actions which can be deemed by even the most simple-minded parent as being immediately and emminently detrimental to the welfare of the child, the government cannot interfere with parental rights. And the standard for determining "reckless endangerment" is much greater than "where these decisions actually harm the child." In the case of inoculations, as regards most medical care decisions parents must make on behalf of their children, the government cannot require parents to submit their children for any vaccination. They can only "recommend" parents do so. In legal terms, parents do have absolute control of their child - unless and until they surrender or waive such rights - either by willful and voluntary actions or by extreme & endangering actions.

Sure Merck will make huge profits--but that doesn't mean the vaccine isn't effective.

No - it also doesn't mean the vaccine IS effective! In fact, one must seriously consider all the factors involved - RESEARCH FOR YOURSELF! - including the odds of one acquiring the cancer(s) against which the vaccine allegedly protects those who are vaccinated. USE YOUR BRAIN - Don't just do what you're told you "should do" blindly - obedience to persons who have only their own best interests at heart - and who have repeatedly shown that such is the case - is idiotic.

And yet your English writing skills are deplorable. How odd indeed. There must not be a vaccination out yet for laziness and stupidity.

But not so odd that you don't know the difference between "their" and "they're"....

You will be very upset about not giving your children vaccines if there is ever an outbreak of Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Polio, or if they ever contract Tetanus, Hepatatis A or B, or Varicella, just to name a few.

How odd, indeed. Both my children have received ALL their vaccinations, including this one, and they're both fine. In fact, they are both on the honor roll at their schools and taking AP classes.

Wow who'd of thought that by getting a vaccine it would make you brighter. Thanks to all you genius's who always do as they're told. Now go take a nap, I hear that will raise your IQ.

It is a good thing that you were not making decisions for your children when the Polio epidemic was happening. They'd probably be dead. Have you learned nothing from the stupid and self serving British doctor who scammed everyone about autism being related to vaccinations? You don't sound very well informed and it is selfish to not vaccinate your children as it is herd immunity that protects infants and those who cannot get the vaccines. [Your rude title of Banging Palin says it all].

not really---

New American MMR Vaccine and Bowel Disease Studies Prove Wakefield was Right

New American Studies today in February 2011 conducted by a team of doctors at Wake Forest University School in the state of North Carolina studied and tested over 275 children a much larger study than Dr. Wakefield.

...and how does this relate to whether the vaccine is effective? Just because the drug companies make huge profits doesn't stop you from taking your anti-psychotic pills.

Great Sally - what about posts #1.5 & #10.4?

If the CDC told you to jump off a cliff would you do that too?

Wow! You're a real think-for-yourselfer! Good for you, sheep.

Big D, do you equivicate a vaccine with jumping off a cliff? I've ben stuck with a needle three times this year, hurts for about 5 seconds. Now I've never jumped off a cliff, but I have a strong feeling that the ground at the bottom would be pretty solid and I would be hurting for more than 5 seconds.

I have never had a vaccine in my life, all a big hype and I hope I spread sickness all over this country when it comes. All you drug addicts will see sickness before I ever will. But if I get something I will make sure I spit in your face when I see you at Wallmart. Why not? just like this comment site, all you see and hear is a bunch of idiots who should die anyway. Go get sick you bunch of germ a phobic maggots

Jet, are you on the organ donor list I hear the American Medical Assoc. recommends it. I might be needing a kidney soon as my last transplant is failing. BTW I'm A-.

I "equivicate" (sic) taking any vaccine that any biased panel recommends for purely self-serving reasons to jumping off a cliff in the dark. You know there will be ground at the bottom - you just don't know how far down it will be, or what type of materials might be at the landing point. You know jumping will get you off the cliff - you just don't know all the risks involved, or what all your options are.

As I see it, unless you're on a cliff, and until you are certain there is absolutely no alternative, WHY JUMP???

The CDC is filled with experts who know this stuff inside and out...unlike you "keyboard scientists" who probably don't even have high school degrees. They are smart enough to never ask you to jump off a cliff.

For those of you who aren't taking vaccine shots, you're relying on the rest of American taking our shots to keep you healthy.

Unfortunately, the CDC is filled with so-called "experts" who have long exhibited a willingness to promote corporate interests - especially the interests of pharmaceutical manufacturers - which is increasingly greater than their determination to protect the basic interests of "regular" citizens. Not only has this vaccine NOT been assessed for long-term and permanent side effects, but its quick passage through the FDA approval process, coupled with the high-profile marketing, as well as the age of its target market, put it in a category with other highly touted, massively marketed drugs which have come and gone, having left behind in their wakes many unexpected adverse reactions, long-term effects and permanent (even lethal) injuries. And every one of those drugs were approved for use by "experts who know this stuff inside and out."

And you're right - they would never ask anyone to jump off the cliff! They would simply tell us that it is okay for us to jump off the cliff - we'll be fine when we land. After all, this group and that group have said that jumping off the cliff is good for you and good for society. And it is your duty as an American citizen to jump off the cliff - if you fail to jump off the cliff, you are not a patriot and you are not carrying your share of the "Keep Americans Healthy" burden. And while those high-pressure tactics may play well with the sheeple - "'keyboard scientists' who probably don't even have high school degrees" - they don't carry much weight with those of us who are not asleep - and who have post-graduate degrees.

Problem is, those same "experts" can never be found when another "miracle" drug is pulled off the market, but usually only after thousands have suffered "side effects" of every range - from slight & temporary injuries to serious, permanent injuries and/or death. And they never accept accountability for their actions or their surreptitiously solicited advice - their defense is always the same: "We relied on the information provided by the manufacturer." I, for one, believe it is high time we stop blindly trusting those who have willfully and maliciously deceived us in the past and place greater restrictions and more stringent requirements on them to prove their latest version of snake oil will not create more harm than good.

If I had a child in the "target" age group for the HPV vaccination, you couldn't pay me enough to sacrifice them as guinea pigs or pawns to the pharmaceutical industry - no matter WHAT you claimed were the benefits of the vaccination. Sooner or later, as I have witnessed so many times in my lifetime, we will hear about this vaccination as we have heard about so many other drugs - "OOOOPS!! Sorry your children are sterile or their children have birth defects! It's not our fault though - we didn't know!" And when that happens, I'll bet you won't be saying, "Oh, that's okay! You were acting in the best interest of Americans and that's more important than anything else."

Thank you ! I didn't allow them to vaccinate my kids with HPV . HIV cannot be vaccinated against , not can herpes etc .

Please know that "safe sex" is not an issue with HPV, condoms do NOT protect against it, as they don't make condoms that big - would have to cover the entire pubic area.

Gardasil is supposed to protect against 70% of HPV strains, so it's not a magic wand. Just MAY help. If anyone has known someone who died of cervical cancer in her 30s, leaving a couple of small kids behind - well, it isn't pretty. My own "baby" sister (now 40) has to be watched carefully by her doc, as she has abnormal paps, and could develop cervical cancer now.

It's really up the parents, isn't it. At least the poor kids on state run insurance will have the chance to get the vaccine. The uninsured kids of the working poor will just twist in the wind on this one.

Just curious to know if you are a doctor or an expert in the subject of when girls become sexually active and STD's. Have you ever given your kids a flu shot? That is influenza by the way...poison. And if it prevents a type of cancer that is rare I'm sure the person that has that cancer would have been more than happy to get the shot then deal with the "rare cancer".

Well, if condoms prevent 70%, and the vaccine prevents 70%, maybe we should get our kids the vaccine and teach them that condoms should be used! That upps the prevention rate to 91%. I'd say wiping out 91% of that two percent that do get cervical cancer is well worth it.

No, my children have never had a flu shot.

..and you can be sure your child will practice safe sex...? I bet you don't even talk to your children about sex--like most parents don't.

Bart, I am actually a "real" parent; involved with my children, know where they are and yes, we have conversations regarding sex, and anything else that they need to talk about. I do not micromanage their lives, but have a healthy relationship with them. Are we perfect?, no but they know that their parents are here for them should they need us. Unfortunately, most kids now don't have that, which is why there are so many children having sex at younger and younger ages.

Moth,

Looks like you have been too close to the flame for too long. You need to get your "facts" from somewhere besides "Anti-Vaccine"/Anti-pharmaceutical conspiracy theorist websites that CLAIM their "facts" are from medical journals when they aren't. Your sources use "Anecdotal" stories and call them "FACTS". There is no such thing as "Safe Sex". That is a myth of you liberal-progressive cereal-bowls. Your number 6 is especially laughable. You obviously have seen the same "Training Films", "Slide presentations", etc. that every military trainee gets in boot-camp. They all know your full of it.

By your last statement you are willing to risk your life at a 30% failure rate. So even if you use them perfectly, (which you can't), there is still a 3 in 10 chance you'll get HPV with condoms. Oh and BTW, just because the your "warts" from # 6 "clear up on its own in (as you falsely claim) 90% of all cases, that doesn't mean the virus that caused them isn't still active in your body, waiting for another chance to attack or mutate or cause infected cells to mutate, i.e. become malignant. Your ignorance of biology and medicine is so stereotypical of anti-vaccination zealots like you.

htdjpf,

I started out being the "good" parent and getting all of my children vaccinated. It was until my daughter was diagnosed with Autism that I started doing research into vaccinations.

Had I known then, what I know now, my children would never have been vaccinated. I am sorry that you are one of those, that believe everything that is told to you by the "experts". If I had listened to the "experts" my daughter would still be in special ED, not talking and looking at herself in the mirror constantly. She is mainstreamed, is at her grade level and doing remarkably well in most areas. Her pediatrician, knows that there is no "medical" reason for this to have happened, I just happen to think outside the box and got her help from naturopaths and eating the correct type of food. Not boxed or chemical laden, fruits, vegetables, meat etc.

If you know your biology, you would know that through proper nutrition, your body can heal itself as it was designed to do.

Everyone is free to make their own choice it is just unfortunate that most people only look at what is spoon fed them and not do their own research.

Unfortunately, most people want a cure all and don't want to have to be responsible for themselves by maintaining their health through healthy habits.

Your ex probably just didn't know, HPV apparently often has no symptoms - no horrible lesions like with syphilis, for example. And as is obvious here today, not much is understood about this silent virus spreading.

http://www.cdc.gov/STD/HPV/STDFact-HPV.htm

The Center for Disease Control site has all the info known. When the vaccine first came out, being from a medical family, I checked out all the known facts before deciding to take my daughter to have the vaccine series. Hope she fares better than my sister.

The bigger problem is that males usually are never tested for HPV. And on top of that, males are usually not tested for other stds very often either. Females probably are tested more often because they go to the gynocologist once a year and its just one extra test but males are almost never offered the test and usually they never request it. I think that is the bigger problem! And I also think that it is excellent that they are suggesting this vaccine for males now too. Statistically, they are the carriers that hardly ever have the symptoms.

Just an opinion - My understanding, from my doctor, there is no HPV test in men, unless they get a PAP of their rear end and it is recommended for homosexual males. Should it be recommended for hetrosexual males, I would think so. Usually HPV clears up on its own. Men usually know they have it if they get gential warts, penile cancer or anal cancer.

You can test for antibodies in the blood but otherwise I think you are right-you have to have some symptoms. I guess that's why it is so common!

You reply could be applicable to any vaccines or medicines for that matter. Look at the side effects profiles of any medicines/vaccines out there, there are always some potential serious reactions, PERIOD. Even 'natural' over the counter supplements have potential serious reactions.

You have to weight the risks vs benefits. There are no 100% safe medications, treatments, or surgeries.

Umm, that's not what the facts say.

The facts show that the serious adverse reactions are equal to or less than an average un-vaccinated population.

I have NOT seen a single clinic that holds people who get this vaccine in the manner you describe. NOT ONE.

I have to wait longer after my allergy injections than my daughter had to wait after her Gardasil shots. They gave her the shot at the start of her office visit, ad let her go as soon as she was done. I can't imagine ANY clinic that would have the capacity to hold patients for "hours" after an injection, but who knows?

Big D- Your wife either works at the stupid clinic or you just made that up.

Bog D -

Each of my daughters have had this vaccine and they have not been held for hours after receiving their injection, 20 minutes is all they are held.

Where did you hear this nonsense? HPV is not transmitted by aerosol.

Big D makes up stuff to get his point across. Facts are such a bother when there are stupid people listening.

There is a very vocal minority who are not vaccinating against the common childhood diseases - relying on the "herd" immunity of those who do get their kids vaccinated.

My mom still remembers at age 6 getting chicken pox and measles at the same time (over 70 years ago). She lost her hearing temporarily, until a new treatment (radiation) was tried - and for her it worked. My son got chicken pox 3 weeks after the vaccine was on the market, I wasn't fast enough to get him the shot. That was a bummer for my daughter - still in diapers at the time, bummer on that - who had 60 outbreaks on her face alone - I counted.

Yes, the same people upset about those often skip standard vaccines for their kids. In their mind, the slight risk of a problem resulting from a vaccination far outweighs the likelyhood of serious problems to their child or others who can't be vaccinated (newborns, people with other medical issues). My boys will be getting this vaccine when they're at the recommended age.

It's been around less than a decade. It's long term effects are still not known. Reported side effects have been fairly serious. It only covers like 16 strains of HPV out of over 100, which is what causes any wart on your body.

It is not some magic "cure" for ANY type of cancer, which is how they tout it, or did in the past when I saw commercials for it. Men and women will still be diagnosed with cancer despite receiving the vaccination. It's giving a false sense of security when what needs to happen is proper sex education. I studied up on it when Rick Perry was trying to mandate it in Texas when I lived there. This vaccine will never touch my two daughters.

well as bad as chicken pox can be. we all had it when we were younger and most kids who were generaly healthy recover just fine. HPV goes undetected untill a gyn exam is done and usually thats not untill the kids are older at least in there teens. Sadly kids are having sex well before that transmitting this virus all over. this virus can cause cancer. Thats a big difference compared to the chicken pox

No, didn't get any of them..... WAKE UP! They are systematically poisoning our children and us! It behooves them and their stockholders to have you dependent on or addicted to some type of medicine. They want us to give our kids chemicals constantly, beginning at birth. Vaccinations, then ritalin, tons of antibiotics during the life of an American child, then Prozac. Then the anti-depressant that assists your ineffective anti-depressant! Then allergy meds, cholesterol meds, blood pressure meds, not to mention all the OTC meds we take.... more chemicals. More profits for Dow, Merck, and the like. Really folks, wake up!

Kipp, The strains of HPV that the vaccine protects against are the one that are linked to cause cancer. Many of the other remaining one are not. Why is that so hard for the Anti-vaccination zealots to understand.

My daughters school almost had to shut down for several weeks a couple of years ago because of six of these Anti-vaccination zombie parent's kids infecting the rest of the school and destroying the "herd immunity". Not only did they not vaccinate their kids, they sent them to school sick, because they were too busy to stay home with a "sick kid". Get the picture?? It was all about THEM, not their kids, our kids, the teacher and staff.

Kipp, before all those "poison" medications were developed, average life expectance was like < 45, now it's 85. I think I'll take the "poison". Your telling me you want Small Pox and Polio back, or are you too young to remember those? Ever heard of an "Iron Lung"? Swimming pools closed in summer?? A third of your classmates in wheelchair or on Crutches or just dead?? 3 out of 5 kids never lived to be teenagers? You are an ignorant buffoon.

What is wrong with a company making a profit? You must be one of those OWS types that's pi$$ed off that no one will GIVE you a job making $100K with your Gender Studies degree.

So sorry to hear about your experience, it is what I fear for my sister - I mentioned this all to her when she first told me she has a pap smear that was abnormal, and her OB Gyn had already broached the subject. It's kind of embarrassing, but of course now her husband is at risk as well.

When the nurse told me the insurance companies weren't paying, a few years back, it would have been $140 per shot, I wish I'd have paid it. Geez, $800 is a lot - hopefully the new findings will get some coverage of that fee.

Yep!! When sales (as the result of the solicited "advisory" from a government agency, in this case) are not nearly as brisk as the manufacturer anticipated, the price goes up. I'm betting they were counting on the "Just say no" and the "Anything you say" generations to line up en masse with their sacrifices... er, I mean children - to submit them to this latest experiment in sociological stupidity. Good that 2/3 of them have been wise enough to withhold - and to suspect the ability of this vaccination to deliver all it promises without delivering a "side" gift later down the road.

I'm sorry you have it, but after seeing scores of women who have nerve or brain damage after taking this, who consequently have no future because of the side-effects, I'm putting my foot down and teaching my kids just not to be risky.

This comment is for JoJo as well... you really want to risk having something worse happen to your children just on the off-chance they might get HPV? Condoms are cheap.

What kinds of lies are you spreading master benjamin gates?

I've read the documentaton on adverse reactions and there are NONE like you describe. NONE. ZERO. NADA.

Stop creating fiction or produce your source.

Lies? What kind of lies are you spreading, Former Marine Sgt government STOOGE? The reason there is no pharmaceutical documentation of adverse affects is obvious... they want you to take it. But there are plenty of sources on the internet with real documentation, including a very severe case of an Australian Model who was paralyzed by this shot. So I don't have the sources at my fingertips, but if you don't look them up you are a complete moron.

I stress what I say is not fiction. Stop being a disinformation crotch-licker.

Are they peer reviewed? Just cause something is on the internet doesn't make it true, and if you believe otherwise I have a few Nigerian princes that would like to make you a lucrative business offer.

FormerMarineSgt

I'm wondering why you believe your opinion is superior to all others and/or if you are capable of responding to anyone without insults? Bottom line is, you do what you wish with your children, others will do likewise.

It's true...and not difficult to read up on, either.

There have been over 70 deaths reported as well as many serious neurological side effects from the drug. However, you must realize that, although some girls/women died shortly after receiving their 'vaccination', no one is going to state that the direct cause of death was related to the vaccine. Because....well....young girls just drop like flies all the time and no one can figure out why.

Yep great idea.

New American MMR Vaccine and Bowel Disease Studies Prove Wakefield was Right

New American Studies today in February 2011 conducted by a team of doctors at Wake Forest University School in the state of North Carolina studied and tested over 275 children a much larger study than Dr. Wakefield.

#di

Do some research. It's not hard to find. Hell, even on gardasil's website you can, if you look at the clinical study.

David you are either hideously uninformed or a fool. This is not about kids having sex at 13. This is about your married sons 20 years from now not KILLING THEIR WIVES!! HPV can only be vaccinated for before it is caught. Your sons are going to start having sex in the next 0-5 years. There is a very very large chance that they will catch one of the strains if they have unprotected sex (even if it is just once). Once they have HPV, it can lie dormant for decades. Then suddenly 20 years down the road their wives come home from the doctors crying because they have cancer - all because you did not want to give your son the vaccine at 13.

My best friend is currently in chemo for her HPV caused cervical and uterine cancer - the cancer is winning. This is her second round with having cervical cancer treatment in 10 years. The first time she was 27 and married. She got it (strain 16) her first husband who had carried it for >8 years. This time she is 37 and got it (strain 18) from her second husband, who has carried it for >6 years. It is not a question of protecting yours son from an STD now, it is a question of protecting your son and his future wife from a death sentence later.

Dude - go back on your psych meds. You're scaring the people here.

Once again, stooge. You are the kind of person who obviously gets on a site to try to discredit truth. So I suggest you use those tactics on your wife and not on the internet. She's susceptible, obviously, but this is the real world where you're bullying and b!tch slaps won't affect the truth. So good luck... I don't see you running any info to support this shot besides your bullying.

LOL

FormerMarine

Are you denying the Eugenics program that did in fact exist right here in the USA up until the 50's? Read a history book will ya.

Its people like you that scare people. Believing everything our government says (that right the same government that infected thousands of innocent people with all sorts of STD in Guatemala years ago) The same government that says arsenic and radiation is good for you. People like YOU scare me. Its people like master ben that give me hope that this country is not all sheep.

Pretty soon that will say its mandatory or its a law to get it just like they did in Texas with Perry. Our government simply can not be trusted period. And for anyone who does I really feel bad for you that you are so damn stupid, might as well be on a farm with the cattle!

How about conspiracy theorists that disbelieve everything the government says? If the government said that grass was green, would you think they were pouring mind controlling alien bacteria into our lawns via fluoridated chemtrails from their nonexistent moon base? big brother

So...kaff...there are loons at each extreme end of the spectrum.

Those jumping up and down to drink the kool-aid and those wearing tin-foil hats.

An intelligent person doesn't do either, but weighs the pros and cons, considers many viewpoints and then determines what is best for themselves and their families.

People like FormerMarineSgt just can't tolerate anyone with a different opinion.

I dunno, eugenics is pretty out there when we're talking about HPV

Exactly. Just because men may not have as serious of side effects, does not mean they don't catch it. My boys will get the vaccine.

In many cases "many", that vaccine has had little to no affect on the actuall HPV. This has more to do with debilitating your immune system so years down the road you end up with more diseases forcing you to live of prescription drugs.

Using your same logic as "WHY taking vaccination based on pure speculation that one day you may have a symptom." I pose you with this question. Do you go to the grocery store on the weekend based on pure speculation that one day this week you may be hungry? Being proactive is the best way to maintain a healthy life.

Dumb analogy. Providing one's body with nourishment is a requirement to sustain life.

Injecting a 'vaccine' into one's body is mere speculation in the "maintenance of a healthy life".

Ok. Go ahead and sterilize him. That's a good mommy.

Smarten up lady.What happened to you and doesn't mean it's going to happen to your boy.

This is a ploy by the Drug companies to sell their Snake Oil.Plus the fact they really don't know what the effects of this Crap are. Their selling you a bill of Bull Crap.

So go right ahead let them use your kid for a Guinea Pig.In the mean time they'll be laughing all the way to the bank at that POOR KID'S EXPENSE.All because you were GULLIBLE ENOUGH TO BELIEVE IN THIS PILE OF BULL DUNG!

I feel sorry for that poor kid!