Is HPV Vaccine Mandatory in Texas

Understanding the HPV Vaccination and Virus

The Human Papillomavirus Virus is given in two different doses to boys and girls ages as early as nine years of age to twelve years before becoming sexually active. However, this vaccine is given to people up to the age of 45. Some research indicates that by the time someone is 26 they may have come in contact with the virus.

There are four main types of HPV virus strains. Medical researches are for certain that the vaccine with last at least four years, however, the long-term results are as yet uncertain.

Researches have discovered over 200 types of HPV viruses of which most of these are harmless. However, there are thirteen that can lead to cancer of the cervix, throat, anus, vulva, penis, and vagina.

What Protection does this Vaccine Offer?

What this vaccine does is to protect the person from getting genital warts. It also protects the person from contacting different types of HPV that are known to cause cancer.

This virus typically causes cervical, vulva, vagina, oropharynx, and anal cancer. The vaccine offers protection before the person comes in contact with the virus.

The vaccine enables the body to make antibodies to fight off the virus, thus protecting the person.

What are the Side Effects of This Vaccine?

Medical researchers say that this vaccine is perfectly safe and does prevent those getting the vaccine from getting HPV. Because everyone is different no one reacts to anything the same way. The report is that out of the thousands of people getting this vaccine no one has reacted to the vaccine or showed even minimal side effects. At the very most the person may complain of a sore arm from where the needle went into the arm.

Some individuals have complained of other minor side effects after receiving this vaccination. These side effects are a slight fever, mild nausea, pain in the muscles or joints, slight soreness, mild redness, and swelling at the injections site.

The CDC reported that there have been some deaths reported after the person received the HPV vaccination, however, none of these deaths show a pattern nor have any of these deaths been linked to the vaccine.

What is the Prognosis if Someone Gets HPV?

Medical technology has made it so that this vaccine offers excellent protection against precancerous lesions brought about by the HP virus. Without protection, it is not the virus that can cause death it is cancer that he or she can get from this virus.

It all depends on,

  • The type of cancer
  • The stage the cancer
  • The Treatment options
  • His or her ability to fight off cancer and tolerate treatment

How is this Virus Contracted?

If a male or female has sex with a partner who has warts on the genitals, skin, or mouth they can pass on the virus to their partner when that person rubs their skin on the other person. No one can contract this virus from any hard surfaces such as a toilet seat, shower, tub, doorknob, or other.

The HPV Vaccine in Texas

Now as for Texas and any mandatory laws regarding the HPV vaccine, this vaccine is not mandatory. However, certain parts of Texas show it to be a necessary vaccination such as in Corpus Christi where it is highly recommended.

Texas has made ten vaccines mandatory for children before they start school. But, the HPV vaccine in Texas is not one of these. Under Texas law, exemptions are made for certain cases where the child can attend public school without these ten vaccinations when the child is under a medical exemption. A written medical exemption must be signed by the doctor and given to the school before the child can attend.