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Questions Surround HPV Vaccine Gardasil
findingdulcinea.com - What do you think about the new HPV vaccine? Is it worth the risk to prevent the visur to prevent cervical cancer? Have anyone already gotten this vaccine for their daughter and reported any adverse side effects? I have already started the course of shots and am wondering if I should stop until she gets older??
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What Do We Really Know About the HPV Vaccine?
Article prepared by Dawn Richardson of PROVE,
Parents Requesting Open Vaccine Education at www.vaccineinfo.net
February 4, 2007
QUESTIONABLE NECESSITY AND EFFECTIVENESS
The American Cancer Society says that even though infection with the sexually transmitted virus HPV is an important risk factor for cervical cancer, most women with HPV infection do not get cervical cancer. Doctors believe other factors must come into play for this cancer to develop. Some of these factors are smoking, HIV infection, Chlamydia infection, poor diet, long-term use of birth control pills, multiple pregnancies, low income, mothers who took hormonal drug DES, and family history. [1] These are not typical risk factors affecting junior high girls.
According to the National Institutes of Health National Cancer institute, in more than 90% of the cases, HPV infections are harmless and go away without treatment. [2]
Also, according to the CDC, most cervical cancer can be prevented and cervical cancer is very rare in women who get regular PAP tests.[3] Cervical Cancer is not a major killer in the state of Texas thanks to PAP screenings: in 2000, there were 371 deaths from cervical cancer, in 2001 there were 352 and in 2002 there were 329. [4]
The CDC says there are more than 100 strains or types of HPV and over 30 strains are sexually transmitted. [5] Yet the vaccine under consideration for mandate covers only 4 strains. [6] About 30% of cervical cancers can’t be prevented by the vaccine, so women will still need regular cervical cancer screenings. [7].
The only current vaccine manufacturer for the HPV vaccine, Merck, admits on their package insert that the duration of immunity from the vaccine is unknown. [8] In clinical trials, the vaccine’s effectiveness was only followed for 4 years.[9] Yet we do know from the CDC that the incubation period for the HPV virus is about 20 years [10] and the median age of women diagnosed with cervical cancer is 48 [11].
Therefore, no claims to proof of cervical cancer prevention by vaccinating preteen girls should be made.
QUESTIONABLE SAFETY
The HPV vaccine Gardasil was approved by the FDA on June 8, 2006 after 6 months of review [12] It has been on the market for less than 1 year.
The chairman of the American Academy of Pediatrics committee on infectious diseases was quoted in the Washington Post in response to a proposed mandate in Washington D.C. saying that he thought it was premature to recommend making the vaccine mandatory. "I think it's too early," said Joseph A. Bocchini. "This is a new vaccine. It would be wise to wait until we have additional information about the safety of the vaccine." [13]
Dr. Martin Meyers, director of the National Network for Immunization Information, was quoted in the Baltimore Sun in response to a proposed bill in Maryland to mandate HPV vaccines for 6th grade girls, “A lot of us are worried it's a little early to be pushing a mandated HPV vaccine." He also said "It's not the vaccine community pushing for this." The article spotlighted HPV vaccine manufacturer Merck’s aggressive role in pushing for a mandate where across the U.S., HPV vaccine mandates could mean $4 billion dollars in sales for Merck [14] who is currently plagued by lawsuits for withholding critical safety information to doctors and patients about their popular painkiller drug Vioxx.[15]
The FDA’s Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System has already received 82 reports of serious adverse events following HPV vaccination with Gardasil since its approval last June. [16]
More questions remain. Disclaimers printed on the manufacturer’s package inset state that the vaccine has not been tested to see if the vaccine itself can cause cancer [17] and the effect on a woman’s reproductive capacity is unknown.[18]
Additionally, the vaccine is genetically engineered yet the manufacturer admits it has not tested the vaccine for genotoxicity [17] (testing to see if the vaccine is toxic to our own human DNA). Each dose of the vaccine contains 225 mcg of aluminum [6] which means girls receiving all 3 HPV doses will be directly injected with 675 mcg of aluminum.
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I definately dont think this vaccine is worth the risk! It is only for FOUR strains of hpv out of more than 100! It was rushed through the approval process. Young women have died after getting this vaccine. Teaching safe sex is the best way to prevent HPV.
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“Gardasil contains Polysorbate 80, which is linked to infertility in mice,” noted Dee Nicholson, National Communications Director for Freedom in Canadian Health Care.
“When 10 to 15 years down the line these girls are grown women and are finding out that they are barren, how many of them will connect the dots?” This question was posed by Désirée L. Röver, a researcher from the Netherlands. -
I don't think this vaccine is safe at all. DEANNA80465 - GREAT INFO. Thanks!
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http://www.cafemom.com/hotlist/current_events/5673/Pushing_Gardasil
this was on the hotlist about a week ago. maybe some of the information there, along with the comments will help you. -
Submitted by
* deanna80465
at 11:24 AM on July 17, 2008
I definately dont think this vaccine is worth the risk! It is only for FOUR strains of hpv out of more than 100! It was rushed through the approval process. Young women have died after getting this vaccine. Teaching safe sex is the best way to prevent HPV.
i agree with everything you said here. although, it should be noted that the 4 strains of hpv this vaccine is supposed to protect you from are the same 4 strains attributed to cervical cancer. not every type of hpv is linked to cervical cancer. so, in theory, i think a vaccine like this could be a good idea. however, this particular vaccine, it's dangers and the fact that legislators are attempting to mandate it for all school aged girls make it a very bad execution of what could have been a good idea.
my daughter will not be receiving this vaccine!! -
Talk to your doctors about HPV. I have it and it is not always sexually transmitted. you can be born with it and not even know. So can guys. There is no way to tell how you get it once you get it to. Make sure you get your yearly paps done!!!
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I was diagnosed with HPV at my FIRST EVER pap smear due to pre-cancerous cervical changes. That was 20 years ago, before the HPV test they now have. Had I not gone to the doctor when I did, I could have easily developed cervical cancer. I had to have part of my cervix removed after the first pap smear I ever had in my life came back abnormal (the cervix regenerates). I had to have quarterly follow-ups for a long time after that. Well-woman check ups were painful for a long time (they are more bearable now). When I decided to have children, I stopped having a cycle after going off birth control due to a build up of scar tissue from the surgery years before. I had to have a D & C (another medical procedure) because of it. After that, I had two successful pregnancies. I was one of the lucky ones. Many young women have died from this! I had never even heard of HPV when I was diagnosed. P.S. My husband turned up with it a few years ago. It could be from me; it could be from someone he met before me. We've been married for 14 years, and I told my husband about my situation whenever we decided to get serious. I'm now HPV negative according to the new test they have for it (it can clear itself from the body; however, it may cause a lot of problems and kill you first).
When my daughter is old enough, she'll get the vaccine. She won't have to go through what I did or worse. -
jkah-I agree. I also have it, we think from my exDH who cheated all the time. I had to have quarterly PAPs and had to have some of my cervix removed as well. I understand the risks, but I am all for protecting my daughter in any way I possibly can. I am a little lucky, she will only be 8 in a few weeks so hopefully by the time she is ready for it it will have imporved.
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Hell No ! Is my opiion and that was before i started hearing that some young girls were having a bad raction to it. It's not worth the risk.
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