HPV Vaccine: My Child – My Decision
When Texas Governor Rick Perry appeared on my television last year discussing the HPV vaccine and his initiative to get it mandated into Texas Law, thus making it mandatory for all girls entering the 6th grade to get the Gardasil vaccine manufactured by Merck, I was none too happy about it.
It’s not that I’m opposed to young girls and women getting the HPV Vaccine if they so choose, but I don’t like or appreciate Government officials such as Rick Perry telling me what to do with my own children. Not only telling Texas parents to get their daughters vaccinated with this controversial vaccine, but coming right out and saying the vaccine would be required for girls as young as 11 or 12 entering the 6th grade, or else they would not be allowed to attend school. Shortly thereafter, Texas parents and Legislators were in an uproar, and Governor Perry started back-peddling on his previous statements saying parents could actually “opt-out” of having the Gardasil vaccine administered to their daughters. Smart move Gov. Perry.
Even though my youngest child, a daughter, is now well above the age described in the Governor’s initiative, it really upset me that Texas parents were basically having this vaccine forced upon them and their children. My daughter is a Senior in High School this year, making plans for college in the Fall, and we’ve had numerous discussions about the HPV vaccine and what her thoughts are on getting it. My daughter is 18 years old, fully capable and of legal age to make up her own mind, and after reading and openly discussing the many issues surrounding the vaccine, it is her choice and decision to get the vaccine. If my daughter were not yet of legal age, and after discussing with her all the issues involved with the vaccine, I would make the decision for my child to get the vaccine. It’s a fact: Teen Sex happens, and whatever I can do, that I choose to do for my own child’s long-term health I will do, but I don’t need some big shot politician breathing down my neck telling me what I must do.
I’ve heard and read numerous news reports about the HPV vaccine debate, the various side effects that recipients might experience, the fact that the vaccine doesn’t protect against all strains of the HPV virus, as well as the notion that getting the vaccine encourages tweens/teens to engage in sexual activity. After reading virtually everything I could get my hands on, or read online, I still believe the decision as to whether young girls or teen girls should get the Gardasil vaccine or not should be left up to the parents to decide. No Government or state official, regardless of their intentions, should have the power to force parents to have the vaccine administered to their own children by having it mandated into Law. It’s my child, my decision Mr. Perry!
I can certainly give Governor Perry the benefit of the doubt, that his intentions were perhaps honorable and that he’s genuinely concerned about the long-term health risks associated with the HPV virus, but there are other ways of bringing important issues facing children today to parents attention. That being said, I thought I’d include for you parents some resource links to articles you may find of interest regarding the controversial HPV Vaccine, where you can make up your own mind.
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When the story broke about the mandatory vaccines I was worried that other states would follow suit. I have a daughter who is now 17, and we have been discussing whether ir not it is a good choice for her. I am glad we live in a state that is allowing us to have the right to make the choice ourselves. That is the way it should be!
LP, you’re absolutely right. It’s about making informed choices, whether for ourselves or our children. There are Pro’s and Con’s to getting the controversial HPV Vaccine and the controversy rages on, but educating ourselves and our children on these matters is vital.
I’m not a fan of the government telling me what to do period. I like the ability to make the choice myself. Telling us to give our daughters a sex vaccine is ridiculous.
Gary R. Hess’s last blog post..DealDotCom Review – Deal or No Deal?
As a fellow Texas parent and a parent of an autistic child, I am on the fence on a lot of the vaccines that are out. The biggest problem that I have on this issue is, the way in which the law got on the books in the first place. This is something that should have been put before the voters of Texas, it was not. I have a daughter and most likely if she were still a minor, I would talk to her and “we” would make a decision.
Mandy’s last blog post..Medical Googlers – Is There Really A Need For Them?
Gary, I absolutely agree that the government has no business telling parents what to do. Personally, I don’t see the HPV vaccine as a “sex vaccine”, but that’s just my opinion.
Mandy, Howdy neighbor!
That is what bothered me most about it, that it wasn’t put before the voters to decide. I’ve read lots of reports saying stuff like Rick Perry has some insider deal with the drug company and all that jazz. I really don’t care what the true intentions were, I decide what is best for my own children not some politician.
Lin ~ Howdy! It would not surprise me in the lease if R.P. was in on some insider deal with the drug company. It still baffles me how he got re-elected this time anyway? I guess that there were just too many to choose from. Had at lease one of them dropped out…R.P. would not be in office now. He did not win by the popular vote
Mandy’s last blog post..Medical Googlers – Is There Really A Need For Them?
Mandy, I solemnly swear I didn’t vote for him!
LOL, neither did I any time…
Mandy’s last blog post..Medical Googlers – Is There Really A Need For Them?
Last summer before my daughter went off to college, she went through the process of getting vaccinated for HPV (three separate shots 2-4 months apart) and meningitis. But she was 17, leaving for college, and has a family history of CANCER. It was also her idea to get the HPV shots. Still I wouldn’t want the government telling me I HAD to do this.
Tara R.’s last blog post..Doctor Death goes to college
Tara, I’m glad to hear that your daughter made the choice to have the vaccine.
Fortunately we have medical insurance to cover the costs for the series of shots, since it can be very expensive depending on where it’s done. It’s simply too important for my daughter to protect herself as much as possible, and this vaccine is one thing that helps ensure her long-term health. My older daughters are also making plans now to have the shots.
I’ve gotta say that I completely agree with you. I think it should be up to the parent (and the child if their old enough) how they would like to proceed with the vaccination issue.
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Hi Kim! Thanks for taking the time to read my post and leaving a comment. So far, there haven’t been any comments telling me I’m way off base, but those may come at some point. It’s all about personal choice.
I wasn’t surprised when Perry was re-elected. There were too many choices and not enough voters. I was however appalled and shocked at his decision to make the HPV vaccine mandatory. I was happy to see the outrage and backlash, at least parents were getting involved. My daughter is 4 so we have a while but regardless of what happens it will be her decision, come hell or highwater
Both of which are plausible, we are in Texas after all.
Rachel’s last blog post..Granny
I have two boys, ages 3 & 1. They’re both about to get their next round of vaccinations. Maybe it’s because I have boys and not girls, but I look at the issue just like any other vaccination; when the boys go to school, they’ll have to have their vaccination records. I don’t know if its policy or actual law, but in the state of Kentucky, the school requires that you have vaccinations.
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Hi Shawn,
I think it should be looked at that way as well. Vaccinations are definitely required for kids entering school, as well as various Booster shots later on down the road. Some parents opt out of those as well for “religious reasons”, but it all boils down to personal choice and parental rights, over what Uncle Sam tries to dictate.
Just curious – do you have issues with other mandatory vaccines (MMR, Hep, DTP)? Because they’re the reason your child survived to even make her own decisions. It wasn’t too long ago that our childhood mortality was incredibly high due to preventable diseases (for which we now immunize).
I’m not saying that we should declare mandatory vaccination for HPV. But to decry it on the grounds that “the government can’t tell me what to do ” is just silly. The government tells you all the time what to do, particularly in terms of health – and good thing too, or we’d all be SOL from the bad decisions *other* people constantly make.
The one failing of public health (like intelligence work) is that our most successful moments are those that no one ever sees, because we measure our successes in prevention.
deepali’s last blog post..emotional underpinnings
No, of course I don’t have a problem with the other vaccines, DTP etc. Those are not the vaccines we’re talking about here. This is simply about the HPV vaccine.
I too agree with the author.Right
now most of our government leaders
are living with two sets of laws.The
ones that they have for the regular
citizens,and the ones that they have
for themselves.
If we would check the record,we
will be shocked to see how our
government officials measure up
on some of their own introduced
laws.
garry’s last blog post..Beware Of Your HABITS !
Thanks Garry. I appreciate you dropping in again.
I certainly understand that people don’t like being told what to do, but, the reason that he is taking this initiative is because he knows that a lot of parents are going to make the decision based on beliefs that don’t take certain things into account. Many people are under the mistaken belief that this is a “sex vaccine” or that this vaccine is seen as encouraging sex. Those people are not thinking about real life. What if your daughter is the victim of a rape later on in life? What happens if your daughter saves herself for marriage and then meets a man who is wonderful, yet, had sex and doesn’t know that he has HPV? A lot of people don’t want to think about the realities of life. I think that one of the most positive things that has happened with this vaccine is that a lot of parents have opened their eyes and started having discussions about sex with their kids. Its funny that we become adults and seem to forget that we were once teenagers with feelings and emotions. So while I don’t like the government telling us what to do, I completely understand their rationale. They are focused on trying to make sure little girls don’t grow up to be women fighting cervical cancer just because their parents didn’t think they should be having sex in the first place. It is an imperfect answer to an imperfect problem. Also, please know that it is impossible to protect against all strains of HPV. Different strains of HPV even cause warts on your hands and feet. So when you say that this vaccine doesn’t even protect against all strains of HPV, make sure that you understand all of the different strains that exist. There are many. The particular strain that the vaccine protects against is far more dangerous than the strain that causes warts on your hands and feet. You would use a wart remover if you got a wart on your hand so why wouldn’t you take steps to protect your child from a strain that is far more dangerous if you could? Think about it.
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Hi Kila, you make very valid points here. I am definitely aware that this vaccine does not protect against all the many strains of HPV. I am all for parents and young people having the vaccine, if they choose to do so. I think they should do so, but as my post says, it shouldn’t be forced by law.
Rachel, I apologize for the delay in approving your comment. It somehow ended up in the spam folder. Darn those Cowboys….
I agree with Kila Morton’s opinion as far as wanting to protect her child.
But as for realities of life one of those realities happen to be that there are risk in taking vaccines. The side effects can be pretty bad.
It’s really like a craps shoot you need to be educated on the risk. Know the side effects . and make a educated decision ,before “rolling the dice on this one”. Todd
I love watching those politicians backpedal out of a deep pile of poop!! I totally agree that this is definitely an issue for parents to decide for their daughters, not forced on us by goverment.