HPV

The CDC explains the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine and its importance. The vaccine should be given to both boys and girls around the age of 11 and have the second dose 6 months to a year later. If people do not receive the vaccine as a child, then they will have to get 3 doses after they turn 15 years old to ensure they are protected. It is important that people get the vaccine young as its purpose is to prevent HPV. Once acquired, HPV cannot be cured; it stays with you for life. A person can still get the vaccine through 26 years old if not already. The CDC recommends the HPV vaccine because it can prevent infections and cervical cancer/precancer. HPV strains that cause warts and most cancers have dropped by 86% in teen girls since the vaccination has been used. Additionally, the CDC recommends you get the HPV vaccine to prevent cervix, vaginal, vulva, penis, anus, and back of the throat cancers. The HPV vaccination alone can stop around 32,000 people from getting cancer!!

A flyer from the American Academy of Pediatrics explains how the HPV vaccine was tested before distributed. In 1997, Gardasil (another name for the HPV vaccine) began testing with over 14,000 people in the clinical trial. After testing for about a decade, the FDA approved the drug in 2006, ensuring the drug was safe and would cause little to no harm to patients. Additionally, the FDA explains how they ensure the vaccine was tested in 2009 to ensure its safety just a few years after it was put on the market. They state that several studies of over 21,000 women were completed to ensure the HPV vaccine’s safety before it was approved. The FDA stated how it monitors vaccines and has very strict standards. Additionally, each lot of vaccine is tested before it is distributed.

I believe it is necessary for everyone who can get the HPV vaccine to get it. Not only will it prevent women from getting cervical cancer, but it will also help men as well. Additionally, it prevents genital warts, and who wants those? It is ridiculous that some parents will not vaccinate their kids because they are scared it will encourage them to have sex. These parents will just end up harming their kids more than helping when they become sexually active and come down with the incurable HPV virus that could possibly give them cancer. Parents should focus on their children’s health, and not worry about their 12-year-old who are in middle school and become embarrassed when other people do so much as look at them. Having a living, vaccinated daughter who is sexually active is better than having a daughter who died from HPV caused cervical cancer. Parents should do their research before having children so they can do what’s best for their kids’ longevity.