The HPV Vaccine: Why Parents Really Choose to Refuse
There has been an effective HPV vaccine available in the UK for years called Gardasil. Both boys and girls are able to get the vaccine, giving them protection against one of the most common sexually transmitted infections in the UK. HPV is also the leading cause of cervical cancer in women. Despite the vaccine’s safety and proven effectiveness, many parents decide against getting their children vaccinated. This leaves children at risk of several preventable HPV-related complications. While sexually active adults can get the HPV vaccine, it won’t be as effective as it would have been in adolescence. What is HPV? The Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is the name given to a common group of viruses that affect the skin. Nearly everyone will get a form of HPV during their lifetime. There are over 100 different types and most don’t cause any problems, but high risk strains of the virus can cause genital warts or certain forms of cancer. HPV often presents with no noticeable symptoms and ca...