Hi IceMaiden,
General -Gardasil and Cervarix Vaccine
Gardasil would be regarded as an improvement over the cervarix vaccine. Cervarix is designed to protect against HPV strains 16 and 18, whilst Gardasil does the same, but has the added benefit of being protective against HPV strains 6 and 11, which are a common cause of genital warts.
Not entirely sure where you are getting your information from regarding Cervarix and "not knowing what the effects were" until at least 2 years after the vaccine.Do you mean safety data or efficacy data, or adverse reactions data? Would probably need more detail to comment directly on that specific claim.
To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate?
Whether to immunise or not comes down to a reasoned analysis of the risks presented to the individual. On the one hand, you have the risk of becoming infected with a particular organism and becoming sick. Against this is the risk of an adverse reaction from the vaccine process itself. Please remember that the vast, overwhelming majority of reported adverse reactions are either local. being a transient redness or soreness at the injection site, or general,such as a transient headache, or muscle ache, or fatigue, or syncope (fainting) subsequent to the injection.
Severe adverse reactions to any of the commonly used vaccines are extraordinarily rare.
Background to Cervical Cancer
As to the specifics of the cervical cancer vaccine, either cervarix or gardasil could be used. Gardasil has the benefit of offering protection against genital warts, but Cervarix appears to offer immunity for a longer period - up to 7 years. The disease they are protective for,Cervical cancer, is unpleasant.HPV induced Cervical Cancer account for over 90% of all cases of cervical cancer. It can lead to bleeding, pain, loss of appetite,fatigue, loss of appetite. It can reduce the chances of having children. There is a risk of metastatic spread to other organs. At its worst it is life threatening.This is a serious disease.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cervical_cancer
However, it is almost entirely preventable. HPV is mostly transmitted through sex, and of course, most people will indulge, sooner or later. To prevent risk it makes sense to educate and introduce the preventions early. Safe sex using condoms can prevent the infection, but is not for obvious reasons entirely reliable. The screening programme (pap smears) is useful, looking for early stage pre-cancerous cervical cell changes, but the test can be difficult to interpret and does not stop the infection in the first place.It is also important to remember that these vaccines prevent the commonest HPV strains, 16 and 18 - it is still important to attend the screening programme.
So what you have to weigh up are the relative risks - on the one hand of being susceptible to the HPV through sex and all the potential downsides of contracting such an infection. On the other, there is the small risk of an transient and relatively trivial adverse reaction to the vaccine, and the exceptionally rare risk of a serious adverse reaction.
Safety and Efficacy Data.
Gardasil has been in use since it was approved for use by the FDA in 2006. It has been extensively tested for efficacy and safety, with very good results for efficacy and safety data similar to other vaccines in the market.
Gardasil usually requires 3 shots, and is considered protective for around 4-6 years. Cervarix was licenced for use in 2007. Since then, there have been millions of doses administered. The safety of these vaccines is very good.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cervarix
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gardasil
Safety Data
http://www.aafp.org/o...902gardasil-jama.html
Unlike Sqad, were it my daughter, i would vaccinate no question :)