Why I plan on giving my son a vaccine "for girls"...

Image Source: http://vaccines.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=005206

The other day I was discussing with a family member who is a Doctor about the meningitis vaccine as it has been in the news lately.

I have been lucky as my son fell into the catch up programme when he was a few months old, and has already had his first vaccine. However, I knew that you can buy the vaccine and if he hadnt have fallen into the age group I would have done this. I wouldnt have known that this was an option if someone hadnt told me, and I wonder if other parents knew... I dont know if there are any restrictions on this vaccine (ages etc.) but it made me ask the Doctor "is there any other vaccinations you would recommend I pay for my son to have?"

The answer I got was unexpected.

He said he had had his 2 sons vaccinated when they were younger with the "cervical cancer" vaccine... To which I immediately thought "what"?!

I have always known the vaccine that girls now have (between 11 and 14) as the cervical cancer vaccine. I am too old to have had it so my knowledge is limited. However, the Doctor went onto to tell me that it is actually a vaccine againt HPV. Many of you may know about this, especially due to coverage over the past few years because it causes cancers such as throat cancer (something we all seem more aware of these days, due to celebrities having being diagnosed with it) as well as cervical cancers.

When I had a look into it myself I was surprised to find that HPV can cause many different types of cancers including the following in males:

• Penile Cancer
• Anal Cancer
• Mouth & Throat Cancer

(For source click here)

When I read this, as a mother to a boy, it concerns me that this vaccine isnt being offered to boys as well. I am not quite sure why the NHS feel that only girls should be getting this vaccine? It may help prevent the spread of HPV virus one way or the other, but until HPV isnt a threat I dont feel that boys shouldnt also be vaccinated. On an emotional level it feels like my son's life has somehow been deemed less important than a girls. (Now dont get me wrong, I feel every one is important, no matter gender, age etc. But I am struggling to understand this decision). I appreciate, as a woman, how big an issue cervical cancer is, but I dont feel it should become more important than a man's cancer of the penis!

Either way, without becoming too political and delving into issues that I am not completely read up on, I wanted to blog about this for any Mum's with boys. I know that when my son turns 11/12 I will be paying to get him vaccinated with the "cervical cancer" vaccine. I just wanted to put this on here in case anyone else wasnt aware and would want to know about it.

Some more information: http://www.cdc.gov/features/hpvvaccineboys/