For that stupid "One Less" HPV commercial, why in the world would a 9 yr. old need that vaccination?!

Ok, that whole thing about cervical cancer, to me, is another government, money-hungry thing to get money, whether its true or not, why would a 9 year old need this shot? Um no 9 yr. old should be having intercourse, I just believe in plain ol' abstinence, if the kid doesn't follow this rule, its because parents are not doing their job.

I still think its the drug companies trying to make money again, b/c stupid thing says does not protect against or prevent cervical cancer, so again whats the pt. of it? just to damage ur liver and take more drugs

I am sorry, but it's one thing to let kids find out the hard way, but it's quite another to give them all they need to protect them in any way you can. Judging from some of the questions posted by teens on Yahoo! Answers, lots of teens are absolutely ignorant about sex, diseases, pregnancy. You can't let kids "find out the hard way" when finding out the hard way can lead to a diagnosis that can kill them, ie HIV/AIDS, ruin their lives, ie pregnancy at 13 (and I have been in the OR with a c-section on a 12 year old) with a parent standing by never having had the "talk" or given them the tools they need. My daughter's haven't had the injection, but I am still considering it, mulling it over. I realize that there are other types of cervical cancer causes, but to have an injection that protects someone against HPV is a giant advancement in female protection. Heck, you can be abstinent until you're 50, but if you marry someone who gives you HPV, you'll be glad you had the vaccination. And sadly, lots of parents AREN'T doing their jobs..... How many parents are in the news for not doing their jobs as parents? But then again, as someone else said, you can be the best parent and a kid can rebel, make a bad choice. As a parent, do you stand back and say "I told you so?" It's a tough place to be in. One thing about it, if you don't want the vaccination, it's not required.

It's for any girl that has started her period. Maybe 9 is a little young to be targeting, but they don't start having sex much later than that anymore, unfortunately. I have seen 13 year olds in Labor and Delivery where I work.

just to get it done and over with before she is old enough for intercourse. studies have shown once a girl is about 16 she needs the shot twice for it to work. so yeah it is for convience.

i know women with hpv..it isnt a money hungry scheme

I agree with your thinking...BUT....the fact is, is that there are 9 year olds out there having sex. It has been proven that HPV causes cervical cancer. 9 is the youngest that can get the vac. So....why not protect her when you can? A teenager that decides to become sexually active is not going to think "Hmmm, I want to have sex now, I better go get that HPV vaccine before I do to protect me against cervical CA." This way, the parent will just take the child to get it early. You only have so much control with your kids. Even the "good" parents. Bad things happen, bad decisions are made, kids rebel. Better to have them protected early than let them make their mistakes later and learn the hard way.

EDIT...

excerpts from the Gardasil info:
"GARDASIL is the only vaccine that may help guard against diseases that are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) Types 6, 11, 16, and 18:
鈥? Cervical cancer
鈥? Cervical abnormalities that can sometimes lead to cervical cancer
鈥? Genital warts
HPV Types 16 and 18 cause 70% of cervical cancer cases, and HPV Types 6 and 11 cause 90% of genital warts cases.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT GARDASIL
GARDASIL may not fully protect everyone and does not prevent all types of cervical cancer, so it is important to continue regular cervical cancer screenings.
Anyone who is allergic to the ingredients of GARDASIL should not receive the vaccine. GARDASIL is not for women who are pregnant.
GARDASIL will not treat cervical cancer and genital warts and will not protect against diseases caused by other HPV types. "

The key word in their statements are "may". Statistically speaking, this vaccine is designed to lower the risks. Not eliminate them. They also encourage one to speak to your doctor about if it is right for your child. They just want to let you know that there are options out there that may reduce risks of Cervical CA. It is not a mandatory vaccine like those of when we were children.

It is kinda like the flu shot in a way. The flu shot is only for certain predicted strains. Not all of them. The flu shot is given to reduce your risks of getting the flu. I get it yearly, but then again, I work in a hospital and am at an increased risk of catching the flu.

Kids learning the hard way...I'm all for that as well, but when you are talking about a vaccine...for a virus that could lead to the death of my child, I would have my daughter get it. Just to be on the safer side and reduce her risk.

You are well within your rights of having your own opinion and you give a great argument as well. We all know that your daughter will never see you taking her to get it.

All we can do as parents are educate ourselves the best we can with the info that is out there and make a decision based on what we know as fact.

WOW! Parents can do everything right and still have a young daughter having sex. Even before her teens. Why not get it early? We all have sex eventually, and if we can avoid a cancer by vaccination, lets do it!

it's a vaccine, and therefore only works if given prior to exposure to virus. Earlier is better, or put her at risk for cervical cancer. your choice, her life

That 9 year old will eventually grow up to be a 16-year-old, a 20-year-old, a 35-year-old...

Gardasil is a 6 month course of shots. If you wait till a teen is thinking about having sex, they're NOT going to wait till they're through 6 months. You need to administer this vaccine far enough in advance that you catch as many girls BEFORE they have had any sexual contact whatsoever. Heck, some people who end up having sexual contact are the ones who DON'T want it.

RAPE happens. There are plenty of little girls who have been the victims of this heinous and senseless crime, and yes, many of them get HPV (and cervical cancer and genital warts) because of it. When the case is rape, then saying she'll "learn the hard way" is just cruel and disgusting. What was she supposed to learn from being raped??? It's worth the effort and expense to protect these girls.

None of us will convince you. You clearly have some kind of agenda against vaccines. If you are able to raise a child who is so well-behaved that she will never disobey you, especially on this front, then more power to you, and may she find the right partner who will be equally pristine and of equally strong moral fiber when she grows up. She would be lucky to have lived such a charmed life. I'd rather these messages encouraging vaccination go to the folks who were on the fence and needed some info.

It is better to start with young women. In this day and age girls are having their periods a lot earlier, and it is best for someone to start the vaccination before they start their period. It's not about sex, it about genetics. But weather we like it or not girls are having sex earlier and earlier.

If you could prevent your daughter from having cervical cancer wouldn't you want to??

Okay, a 9 year old, no. But once a girl hits puberty, it's a damn good idea to have one. You can tell your kids all you want about having "protected sex" but all it takes is one time to get HPV. If I had a daughter, I'd realize that we're all human and I'd have her get the vaccine because she can always be exposed to this later in life.