Is there any reason not to be vaccinated against cervical cancer?

[Deep13]

These women in my office seem to think it is dangerous, but of course they can't say why. Are there any significant side effects?

[LeftishBrit]

1. Well...

according to certain posters in you-know-where, spontaneous combustion appears to be the LEAST of the consequences! There is one poster who must have posted close to fifty million separate threads about Gardasil is teh evil.

We started universal Gardasil vaccination (not mandatory but most get it) for girls in the UK last year, and I haven't noticed any increases in the rate of spontaneous combustion, unless you count the flamewars in you-know-where.

The only problem I can see is that it is found to be less effective if given in adulthood, than if given before the onset of sexual activity. (Some fundies think that it encourages early sexual activity, but I've never heard of a girl who cited fear of cervical cancer as her reason for abstinence!) Thus your colleagues may be past the age of maximum effectiveness - but it would not be dangerous for them. Certain sites would differ with me on that, however.

[Deep13]

2. I just looked at CDC's information.

They report some pretty insignificant side effects. Mostly it's pain at the injection site and a mild, short fever.

[TZ]

3. Its also ineffective if you already have the HPV virus

and something like over 50% of adult women have the virus already so its useless to them. Thats why its recommended for younger girls.
But no, its not anymore dangerous than any vaccine.

[moggie]

4. Autism of the hooha

Whether that counts as significant depends on the patient.

[cosmik debris]

5. It causes the decline of morality

And increase in promiscuity.

:)

[Deep13]

6. If only this stuff had been around in the 1980s! nt

[lizerdbits]

7. Absolutely!

I mean, if my insurance covered it (I'm too "old") I would quit my job and become a drug using prostitute and rob banks to support my habit. I mean, it's not like there's any other STDs like herpes, HIV, or drug resistant gonorrhea.

I think the 'increase in promiscuity' is such a ridiculous argument. I had sex ed in the late 80's/early 90's and HIV killing people in 5 years or less didn't seem to stop us from fucking. So a vaccine would probably not have made any difference in behavior.

[cosmik debris]

9. I'm just glad Big Pharma found a modern solution to the morality problem.

I'm a veteran of the Sexual Revolution and we didn't have any good stuff like Gardasil.

We had to rely on old out-dated home remedies like booze and pot to break down moral barriers.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

8. If you scratch the anti-gardasil nuts a little bit...

you'll find under the surface the notion that the vaccine will lead to promiscuity, and that cervical cancer is god's punishment for loose women.

It happened back when gardasil first got released onto the market. There were epic flame wars, and when the woo woos finally ran out of all possible arguments, they resorted to the Talibanesque comments.

You can find them searching the archives.

As far as I know, they're still on DU promoting their woo.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

10. a) you're not a woman b) you're not heterosexual/bisexual

those are two good reasons

[Deep13]

13. Gee thanks.

I guess I won't be getting one then. :eyes:

I'm actually worried about my niece. She's nine now and my sister has bought into this whole vaccines-are-dangerous thing. So based on what amounts to stupidity, my niece will be at risk for a catagory of cancer that is entirely preventable.

[La Lioness Priyanka]

14. well you did ask for reasons why you wouldnt get one

and those are the two i could think of :P


sorry. :hug:

[Deep13]

15. You know we're good, right?

:yourock:

[La Lioness Priyanka]

16. yeah i wasnt sorry for teasing you. i was sorry about your niece

teach her about safe sex. hopefully she will listen

[Deep13]

17. I wish I could. She's 700 miles away. nt

[progressoid]

11. Sadly, my wife would agree with the women in your office.

I hear things like "we don't know the long term effects yet" or "they told us to take hormones for menopause too and look how that turned out" .

:banghead:

[Warpy]

12. Other than taking away one disincentive to sex

for one's perfect little virginal dolly of a daughter, there doesn't seem to be any long lasting problem from it.

The pain at the site has been likened to a tetanus shot. The fever afterward is like the one after a flu shot, treatable with Tylenol.

They both beat the hell out of cancer.

However, there's a segment of the population out there who would rather risk their daughters' lives, better dead than despoiled by sex.