HPV Vaccine: Anti-Cancer Vaccine for Tweens

In recent years there has been a lot of talk about the HPV vaccine for young tweens, aged 11-12 years old, but recent studies show that there has been a decline in vaccines administered. These same studies show that these “tweens” have had office visits receiving other vaccinations, but have not received this “Anti-Cancer Vaccine”.

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that there are a few reasons why parents are not choosing to vaccinate their children. First, doctors are not making the recommendation for this vaccine to parents. While parents are vaccinating their children for pertussis or meningitis, 84% of these patients are not getting the HPV vaccine. Second, many parents aren’t educated on the importance of this vaccine or are unsure of the safety of the vaccine.

In seven years of evaluations done by federal agencies, there have been no serious adverse effects found, except the common side effects that come with any vaccination, such as pain or reddening at the injection site, or a slight fever. The risks of not receiving the vaccine is extremely higher than not having received it.  HPV is found in nearly all sexually active men and women at some point in their lives. It can cause cervical cancer and genital warts in women, and possibly some cancers in men. It’s hard to tell who it will effect, but by getting the vaccine, you are helping to stop the spread of the virus, which is why it has been called the “Anti-Cancer Vaccine”.

The Affordable Care Act makes it affordable to receive this vaccination for your tween.  Most private insurance agencies provide preventative care at no out of pocket cost to the patient. Contact our office to schedule an appointment for your tween to receive this “Anti-Cancer Vaccine”. The recommended age to receive the vaccine in both boys and girls, is ages 9-26. This is a three-series vaccine and can be administered in our office, for your girls, or in your Pediatrician’s office for your boys.