Should HPV Vaccines Be Required for School?

[Alpinegeist]

Hi Everyone,

I'd like to hear what some of you think about the HPV vaccine. First, would you let your teen-age girl or boy have it and if not, what's your reason? Second, I saw an article that said the best way to get this vaccine to the most people is to make it a requirement for school, just like with other childhood vaccines. I guess that makes sense, but I'm not sure how I feel about making it a 'law."

Just curious what others think. I would go ahead and give it to my kids, by the way.

[Hurricanes Hockey]

I would say yes to letting teens have this vaccine, whether male or female. Beyond the goal of preventing cervical cancer and genital warts, think of the abnormal Pap that might be avoided (with all the expensive and inconvenient follow up).

[Gandalf]

What's the difference between HPV and HSV...are they related in any way?

Thanks.

[Victoriana]

What's the difference between HPV and HSV...are they related in any way?

Nope, no direct connection between the two, although there are similarities. HPV is the Human Papillomavirus, which can cause warts most anywhere on the body. Some types of HPV (there are more than 100 altogether) prefer genital/anal skin and can cause genital warts ("low risk' HPV). Some other types of HPV, called "high risk" types, can cause abnormal cell changes to a woman's cervix which, if undetected, can sometimes lead to cancer. Even these types of HPV are rarely dangerous, but it's a good idea for women to have regular Pap tests as a precaution.

HSV is of course the Herpes Simplex Virus. HSV-1 is usually associated with cold sores, while HSV-2 is most often found with genital herpes (in truth, though, either type can infect oral/genital tissue).

HPV and HSV are transmitted the same way, skin to skin contact rather than fluid exchange. In this discussion, that means anal and vaginal sex, and any genital-to-genital contact, even without penetration.

Hope that helps.

[Benni from Holland]

I think they should be, because giving them as part of going to school means just about every kid will get them. Otherwise, kids might fall through the gaps.

One of the vaccines recently got the ok to be used to prevent anal cancer. Makes sense to get it to as many people as possible.