There are so many new vaccines available and in some cases required for admission to school this fall. Even new blends and combinations of old standard worry me, both in terms of side effects and effectiveness that have not yet been discovered. I am pleased with the development of the meningitis vaccine and plan to get it for my oldest daughter in advance of the recommended age due to her lifestyle including team sports, (lots of time in locker rooms, team busses and even dorm-like accommodations at invitationals, etc.) with my pediatrician's blessing.
The most controversial vaccine of late, following whether there is a strong correlation between vaccines and autism, or the hazards of mercury as a preservative, is the HPV vaccine. Since the discovery that HPV increases cervical cancer risk, this vaccine has been widely encouraged among the medical community to young girls. There seem to be more questions than answers raised by the introduction of this vaccine, not the least of which is at what age would a booster be required, should boys also receive the vaccine, and of course, side effects.
read more on this issue in our news section or by clicking here: http://news.yahoo.com/s/hsn/20080902/hl_hsn/hpvvaccinehashigherallergicreactionrate