HPV Vac. Any success stories?

[Kajikit 65]

I'm shocked that the hpv vaccine is 'required' for immigration! It's of dubious benefit to anyone post-pubescent (if the virus is as prevelant as they say, almost everyone 'of age' has already been exposed at least once...), totally unknown how long it will last, and whether it does any good at all, and horribly expensive...

[christi 0]

Two cents from someone who is very happy to have had the vaccination. I am sexually active but negative for HPV (DNA test, 3 years in a row, all negative) so I hardly consider it "worthless." She can get an HPV Digene DNA test to determine previous exposure, and if there has been none, it would be just as worth it as it would be for a virgin. The argument about it being "worthless" for those already sexually active is what's worthless, imo. There are nearly 100 strains of HPV, the vaccine is effective against four of the most dangerous strains. Even if previous exposure to one of the four strains could be proved, it would still be effective against the other three. My Doctor told me this, as did someone who works for the National Cancer Society. Also, I experienced no side effects other than a slight soreness at the injection site which lasted a few hours.

[christi 0]

...it only covers four strains to add to which and lets face it this is true, the virus is not the only cause of cervical cancer therefore its a vaccine against four possible causes out of god knows how many. and what about if you have already been expossed to the virus?

Actually, HPV *IS* the only known cause of cervical cancer.

The four strains covered by the Gardisil vaccination include the two known to cause the most cancers and also some that cause genital warts. There are more than 100 strains of HPV, and only a few cause cervical cancer. many other strains are asymptomatic and disappear in a short time, so you really need vaccination for the dangerous strains, not ALL strains.

If you've already been exposed to a strain of HPV, it depends entirely on WHICH strain.

[Ed+Cindy 1]

I briefly looked up waivers for vaccines a few months ago and this is what I remember (but could be wrong).

You can't file the waiver until you have been denied AOS. They will deny you on not meeting the vaccine requirements. You then send a waiver to USCIS (which will add months to the process) and pay a fee, which I think was around $500. Then your AOS is approved.

I won't get up on my soapbox about vaccines and pharmaceutical lobbies in the US, but will say that I feel bad for those under 26 forced to have the Gardasil shot.