HPV vaccine on the horizon

[Nurse Ratched, RN]

(But not without controversy...)

Merck and GlaxoSmithKline, pharmaceutical leaders in the vaccine business, are expected to bring to market nine new vaccines by 2010. Five of them are geared toward teens and adults.

The drug companies' payoff could be billions of dollars, but getting some of the vaccines to market won't be easy.

The two most anticipated vaccines -- Cervarix and Gardasil, competing products from GlaxoSmithKline and Merck -- are the ones with the biggest blockbuster potential. The vaccines also face the biggest hurdles. Both would immunize teens against human papillomavirus, or HPV, which is a leading cause of cervical cancer.

Both companies would like the vaccines to be required for preteens -- GSK says for girls as young as 10. HPV is a sexually transmitted disease, and the companies argue that girls should be immunized before they become sexually active. But that has raised concerns that the vaccines could promote sexual activity.

Read on...

http://www.rednova.com/news/display/?id=164773&source=r_health

[SmilingBluEyes]

Hmmm interesting.

I can see why they (a pharmaceutical company) want it "required" for preteens and teens. I would like to see the research and know it's safe, naturally, before considering it for my daughter or son. And just like anything, promiscuity is a problem that goes beyond pills and shots. If there is no communication between child and parent, and poor self-esteem, no pill or shot will make a difference either way.

[babyktchr, BSN, RN]

Hmmm interesting.

I can see why they (a pharmaceutical company) want it "required" for preteens and teens. I would like to see the research and know it's safe, naturally, before considering it for my daughter or son. And just like anything, promiscuity is a problem that goes beyond pills and shots. If there is no communication between child and parent, and poor self-esteem, no pill or shot will make a difference either way.

AMEN sister

[wannabeL&D73]

To me that is like saying that condoms encourage sex, which is absolutely false. *If* it were proven safe, I would want my daughter to get it to save herself the heartache of Incompetent cervix caused by a LEEP or a cone. (Not to mention cervical cancer) A late loss due to IC is absolutely devastating. Of course, you can be sure we will discuss all of the reasons that it makes sense to wait to have sex. But even if she doesn't have sex until she is married, the odds are her husband will have encountered HPV--it is so common.

And I doubt that whether they have this vaccine or not would ever be a factor in a teenager's choice to have sex. As SBE said, poor self-esteem and lack of communication with parents are much more powerful issues.

Shannon

[Roseyposey]

I don't see why it would be necessary for the child to know what the vaccination is for. Do we explain the purpose of every vaccine to our children? Maybe I'm in the minority, but all my children know about their shots is that they're necessary to prevent "bad diseases."

[SmilingBluEyes]

at 10 and beyond, most kids DO want to know what they are getting treatments for. At least mine do. (even my 6 year old wants rationales nowadays). It's their BODY-----And I think it's only right to explain it to them when they are getting shots/medicines/treatments.

[FrumDoula]

at 10 and beyond, most kids DO want to know what they are getting treatments for. At least mine do. (even my 6 year old wants rationales nowadays). It's their BODY-----And I think it's only right to explain it to them when they are getting shots/medicines/treatments.

Absolutely!

Especially with our young women, i would like to spend less time on the evils of premarital sex and the whole birth control talk (although these things are certainly necessary for so many teens) and more time on explaining the incredible nature of the female body! With our young men, I would like them to know more about their bodies as well, and also educate them about the female body and how complex and wonderful it is.

This past week, I sat with a 16 year old and explained all about Fertility Awareness Method. I literally had to teach her what and where her cervix was, to start. We discussed the changes that happen in the normal cycle and we watched some videos of women having babies without medication. (A terrific video from Penny Simkin called Relaxation, Rythym and Ritual.) Afterwards, she said to me, "I thought I'd be totally grossed out, but it was really cool watching birth. It wasn't scary at all." She thought all the FAM information was amazing, and wants me to send her Toni Weschlers' book. (Her mother is heading into prison shortly, and never bothered to teach her about much.) She had lots of questions and great insights.

We have GOT to help reprogram young women to get their minds away from the intercourse issue (which is often all about pleasing some guy or a teen peer group) and give them a new legacy to work with, one that honors their bodies. It's through this that I think we may be able to affect teen pregnancy rates. I hope. I agree very much with Christiane Northrup, MD, when it comes to these ideas.

In my community of Orthodox Jews, premarital sex and contact is a big no-no. So the majority of our youth go to their weddings nights young and inexperienced. Literally, most have never even held hands with the opposite sex. While that may seem freakish to some, I think it's so beautiful that marital intimacy could be so exclusive and special. Kind of refreshing in this day and age, quite frankly.

So many young men and women in the secular community strike me as so CYNICAL about sex. It's heartbreaking to me. I see such a difference among our kids - much more innocence, which is so nice. I am not saying everyone needs to be like the Orthodox Jewish community. But hey, recapturing some of our collective innocence would sure be nice .....

Alison