alt Hacker NewsAt one point, it was encouraged that 9-year-olds get the vaccine.
As a parent, I'd rather my child wait until their immune system is more developed, with the idea being that if they're getting STDs at age 9, then there's a bigger problem.
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There is a medical recommendation for ages 9-25 in my country though the public funded mass vaccination program is for 12-13 as the most effective age.
The thought that a 9yo would need protection from STDs is very upsetting which I would guess makes it a talking point. It is better to mass vaccinate at whatever age is publicly acceptable than not at all so I would concede that to critics.
Anyone exposed to sexual activity at such an age is clearly a victim of abuse. Penalising victims of abuse, whether it be forcing them to attempt to carry a baby to term, against medical advice, or forcing them to deal with the consequences of STDs is a very peculiar and nasty attitude. When societies start justifying denial of care and treatment along lines of class, politics, age, race, religion, gender or perceptions of "morality" there's a bigger problem.
HPV can be transmitted sexually and it is the most common way, but it's definitely not the only way. Once you've contracted one of the variants the vaccine prevents it is too late for that one so that's why they want to do it as early as possible. The most common vaccine Gardasil 9 protects against 9 variants. Of course it's best to take advantage of the best protection it can offer, so why not do it early?
Also, it takes 3 jabs and about 8 months (increasing intervals) so it's important to do it early for that reason too.
Completely agree.
If kids are getting HPV before their teens, the solution is not vaccination ...
What age do you recommend and why?
> I'd rather my child wait until their immune system is more developed
At what age is the immune system fully developed?