HPV Vaccine, cervical cancer and side effects

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by talkhealth on Mon Mar 26, 2012 12:55 pm

HPV Vaccine, cervical cancer and side effects

We are posting here on behalf of someone, who we will call G, who has made contact with talkhealth but is far too upset to post in this forum.

G's daughter, aged 12/13, has recently had the second HPV vaccine.Tragically, G's daughter has developed alopecia which has been devastating for both of them. G is concerned it could be a side effect of the HPV vaccine and will now NOT let her daughter have the 3rd immunisation. Having Googled the vaccine in association with adverse reactions, there have been 8 reported cases of alopecia as a side effect. G has reported the reaction to the MHRA and the manufacturer, and both organisations have made routine calls to G acknowledging the reaction.

As you can imagine, G is devastated as any mother would be and unsure what to do. Will her daughter's hair grow back? Should she allow her daughter to have the final vaccine now? Has anyone else had any adverse reactions? Also, G's daughter had eczema as a child and she is wondering if there is a connection as her GP has suggested that there 'might' be as both are associated with the auto-immune system.

So many questions, but any help you can give to G would be very much appreciated.
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Mr Peter Greenhouse
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by Mr Peter Greenhouse on Tue Mar 27, 2012 1:21 pm

Re: HPV Vaccine, cervical cancer and side effects

Hi - I'm very sorry to hear of this problem which may (or may not) be specifically related to the vaccine, as there are bound to be a few cases of unexplained alopecia occurring in the millions of girls & young women who have received the vaccine, although the timing of onset in your daughter's case may be suspicious. Unfortunately, I can't advise you about the alopecia , but I can tell you that, regardless of whether or not the vaccine might be to blame, you should NOT let your daughter have the last dose.
This is because she can get by well enough without it. Reasonable responses to the vaccine (i.e. levels of bodily defence [antibodies] against HPV) have been demonstrated in the large number of individuals who have had only two doses of the vaccine. Although it may take several years to prove it, protective immunity against cervical & vulval cancer in these women is probably adequate in the vast majority of cases.
Also, if your daughter never smokes or lives/works in a heavy passive smoking environment (regardless of whether or not she's been vaccinated) she is exceptionally unlikely to get cervical cancer, as smoking is the essential co-factor which prevents the body naturally ridding itself of high-risk strains of HPV.

So you can at least be reassured that your daughter should already be protected.
Mr Peter Greenhouse
Consultant in Sexual Health

http://www.talkhealthpartnership.com/on ... nhouse.php

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