Don’t be Swayed by Myths: The HPV Vaccine is Completely Safe

There’s a lot of controversy surrounding the HPV vaccine, and quite a few myths as well. But the bottom line is, this simple vaccine can prevent HPV-linked cancers – and that’s a big deal. HPV is transmitted sexually, can lead to certain cancers, and is really wide-spread in the United States. In fact, if you’re an American and you have sex, there’s a pretty high chance that you have it.

One reason parents resist getting the vaccine for their kids is due to a myth that it can cause autism. “The HPV vaccines do not cause autism, there’s always a risk of some vaccine-related side effects … local site injection pain, some redness, some swelling,” says Dr. Jessica Geiger, a medical oncologist at Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center. “There are no syndromes such as autism or other neurologic symptoms that have been linked to the HPV vaccines.”