If you are giving your SON Gardisil...

[readyin07]

I know this is somewhat controversial but I think we will vaccinate ds1 with gardisil. At what age will you do this of if you are planning to? The pedi asked if we wanted to at DS’s 8yo visit and I said no mainly because he was still losing his mind over the flu shot. I know it needs to be done before kids are sexually active and if you do it before a certain age they only need one shot. any thing else to consider? He has his 10yo visit coming up:

[mom2twoboys]

We plan to and I think his pediatrician said at his 11 year appointment is when he will give it to him.

[rootbeerfloat]

DS just got his first dose at his 12-yr appt. He will need a booster in 6m.

[InBetweenDays]

Our pediatrician gives it to boys and girls at their 11 yo appointment. DS just turned 10, and we'll get him the vaccine next year.

[cjcouple]

I was told by their Pediatrician between 11-13 for 1st dose and 1 booster.
They can get it after 13/as an older teen but it requires 2 boosters at that point.

[lolalolalola]

Our school does it for all students in 7th grade. 

[katiecj6]

I have a 9.5 year old.

I'm in Ontario and they do it in Grade 7 (so 12 years old). I don't plan to do it earlier.

[eclaires]

We did the first dose during his 12yo well visit in the fall.

[devonpow]

DS1 got his at his 11 year appointment and a booster 6 months later.

[esdreturns]

My DS got his at 11 and then a booster about 6 months later.

[woodgnome]

My son is 3.5 so I don’t have any anecdotes to give but we will be doing gardisil when he’s at that age. And it’s ridiculous that it’s controversial.

[Leeham Rimes]

We will, Ive read it’s recommended to get it at 11/12 so I’m sure we will do it then. It can be started as early as 9 but our pedi hasn’t said anything yet, x will be 9 this year.

[PennyCandy]

If you do it before age 15, it is a two dose series versus 3 doses after 15 years old. It's typically given at 11 years old, but can be given as young as 9 years old.

[isabel]

Yes, both of our boys will receive this vaccine. They're a ways off from it, but I believe 11-12 was what the chart said at our pedi's office.

[tripleshot]

DS just got his last summer at his 13 year check up.

[womet]

The recommendation is for 11-12 year olds, but it can be given as young as 9. The second dose needs to be given between 6 and 12 months later. The key is to get people vaccinated before they are exposed. Most will only need 2 doses, but some will need 3. 1 dose is not sufficient.

[MrsDarcy]

My son is 7 and my daughter is 4, so I’m not there yet and haven’t researched at all, but why is it controversial?

[savan]

Our pediatrician did it at 10.

[jinkies]

Feb 4, 2019 16:15:24 GMT -5 MrsDarcy said:

My son is 7 and my daughter is 4, so I’m not there yet and haven’t researched at all, but why is it controversial?

1. Because there has been some bad research (since retracted, but as we've seen with the autism science, it's hard to get the horse back in the barn) that shows safety concerns.

2. Because the abstinence-only crowd believes it will promote promiscuity by giving a false sense of security from STDs.

[PennyCandy]

Feb 4, 2019 16:15:24 GMT -5 MrsDarcy said:

My son is 7 and my daughter is 4, so I’m not there yet and haven’t researched at all, but why is it controversial?

In my experience (public health) the most common reason parents decline HPV9 is because it's a sexually transmitted disease and they are in denial that their kid is going to have sex at some point. Safety comes up a lot. For some reason, this vaccine in particular has a bad rap. It's been on the market 12+ years and has been extensively studied and proven to be safe, but science doesn't mean a whole lot to vaccine hesitant folks. 

[cmeon]

DS was 9, second shot at 10 (12m later). I asked at DD's 9y annual, but, there was some conflicting guidance out at the time and her pedi wanted to wait (have us come back, or wait until next year)- so we'll start next year, when she's 10.

There's a 2 shot sequence or a 3 shot sequence, you're limited to the latter if you start at 15yo+.(Thanks, PennyCandy, sorry to duplicate)

[MrsDarcy]

Thanks, jinkies and PennyCandy. Here I thought it was a “real” reason beyond antivax and abstinence-only folks. 😉 Looks like I’ll be looking for this in a few years.

[formerlyak]

DS got his at his 11 year old check up and then the booster 6 months later. He had no side effects.

[lyssbobiss, Command, B613]

Yes, I intend to get DS vaccinated. If we have an opportunity as parents to prevent our sons from potentially spreading some forms of HPV to a female sexual partner in the future, I don’t understand why we wouldn’t do it. We should vaccinate everyone to protect the most vulnerable, same as every other vaccine.

Ok soapbox over.

His pediatrician said we should do it around age 12, so that’s when I’m planning to have him get it.

[carmenere]

Feb 4, 2019 16:36:40 GMT -5 PennyCandy said:

Feb 4, 2019 16:15:24 GMT -5 MrsDarcy said:

My son is 7 and my daughter is 4, so I’m not there yet and haven’t researched at all, but why is it controversial?

In my experience (public health) the most common reason parents decline HPV9 is because it's a sexually transmitted disease and they are in denial that their kid is going to have sex at some point. Safety comes up a lot. For some reason, this vaccine in particular has a bad rap. It's been on the market 12+ years and has been extensively studied and proven to be safe, but science doesn't mean a whole lot to vaccine hesitant folks. 

I remember when I got it, the shot hurt like a bitch and the nurse said it was something about the preservative in the vaccine. So maybe that has something to do with it? To be clear, I'm still glad I got the vaccine and will absolutely vaccinate my kids (if we have kids).

But I think what Penny said is the real reason. All of the advertising in the first few years it was on the market framed it as a cancer vaccine and avoided mentioning sex or STIs.

[Deleted]

Feb 5, 2019 12:56:47 GMT -5 carmenere said:

Feb 4, 2019 16:36:40 GMT -5 PennyCandy said:

In my experience (public health) the most common reason parents decline HPV9 is because it's a sexually transmitted disease and they are in denial that their kid is going to have sex at some point. Safety comes up a lot. For some reason, this vaccine in particular has a bad rap. It's been on the market 12+ years and has been extensively studied and proven to be safe, but science doesn't mean a whole lot to vaccine hesitant folks. 

I remember when I got it, the shot hurt like a bitch and the nurse said it was something about the preservative in the vaccine. So maybe that has something to do with it? To be clear, I'm still glad I got the vaccine and will absolutely vaccinate my kids (if we have kids).

But I think what Penny said is the real reason. All of the advertising in the first few years it was on the market framed it as a cancer vaccine and avoided mentioning sex or STIs.

Oh yeah, I highly recommend icing the arm right after. Maybe it’s better for kids, but I got it in my early 29s, right after it came out. It was legit the most painful vaccine I’ve ever gotten.

[jillybean222]

Same as most, first one at 11y well visit, booster 6 months later.

[Dumbledork]

Feb 5, 2019 15:20:20 GMT -5 melmaria said:

As someone who lost a loved one to cervical cancer, it infuriates me that this vaccine is controversial.

Anyway, don't have a DS, but if I did I would vaccinate at 11/12, per the normal recommendations.  Same with future DD.

My 28yo sister just had a full hysterectomy in November due to cervical cancer, and it breaks my heart that the vaccine is controversial.

I ask about it at dd’s appointment every year. She’ll get it as soon as she can.

[readyin07]

Feb 5, 2019 15:31:40 GMT -5 mofongo said:

I’d like to know why SON is in all caps. Lol. I mean, it’s the same for both girls/boys, right?

Only because we have a lot of reading fails here lol. At least in a group I am in there was a debate amongst girl moms about the vaccine as it relates to first periods. That conversation would be not applicable.

[cleo29]

My old gynecologist was so excited when this came; a possible end to cervical cancer is pretty amazing.