13-15 yo's saved from harm from HPV vax in Ireland (for now)

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13-15 yo's saved from harm from HPV vax in Ireland (for now)

Sheri

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-wellbeing/health-news/parents\

-warned-over-measles-epidemic-887110.html

Thursday, August 7, 2008

A shabby decision on vaccinations

A DECISION by Minister for Health and Children

Harney to limit access for cervical cancer

vaccination to 12-year-old girls reflects all

that is shabby and wrong about our two-tier healthcare system.

Because of cost considerations, 13 to 15 year old

children will be excluded from the State

programme. But, if their parents are wealthy

enough, they can pay an estimated €600 each and

have their children inoculated privately.

Cervical cancer is a slow-growing killer that can

be effectively treated if caught in its early

stages. That is why a national cervical screening

programme is being rolled out next month. But

this new vaccination has the capacity to prevent

the development of 70 per cent of these cancers,

if used before sexual activity takes place, and

its application could lead to a halving of deaths in the long term.

The cost of extending the vaccination programme

to include 13 to 15 year olds would amount to a

once-off charge of €30 million. This type of

intervention was specifically recommended by an

expert study group. If adopted, benefits would

not only accrue from the happiness of the

individuals and families whose lives might

otherwise be blighted by cancer, but by way of

reduced treatment and hospital costs within the

healthcare system. However, the Minister has

decided not to include these children in the

proposed scheme because of budgetary

considerations and competing demands for resources.

Doubts about the Government's good faith, along

with the capacity of the Health Service Executive

to deliver the project, have been raised by the

conditional nature of the Minister's

announcement. Asking the HSE to prepare a

vaccination plan for 12-year-olds, she emphasised

it would only go ahead if there was a take-up of

80 per cent and if it was cost-effective in terms

of administration and vaccine charges.

Delay and procrastination has already become a

feature of this project because of the costs

involved. By contrast with this State, a free

vaccination service will be rolled out in

Northern Ireland and in Britain next month, with

a catch-up programme being offered to all girls

under 18 years of age. The vaccination programme

here will be confined to primary schools, with a

possible starting date of September 2009.

Concerns have been raised that the vaccination

programme could encourage young children to

engage in sexual activity. This scheme has

nothing to do with promiscuous behaviour. It

simply offers long-term protection against most

forms of cervical cancer, just as vaccination

against rubella offers protection for future babies.

The real issues involve an official apathy

concerning tens of thousands of young girls

between 13 and 15 years and an unwillingness to

provide the funding necessary to safeguard their

health. It emphasises the shameless nature of our

two-tier health system where poor families, who

cannot afford private vaccinations, will be

forced to run a greater risk that their daughters may die of cervical cancer.

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times

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Sheri Nakken, former R.N., MA, Hahnemannian Homeopath

Vaccination Information & Choice Network, Nevada City CA & Wales UK

Vaccines - http://www.wellwithin1.com/vaccine.htm

Vaccine Dangers & Homeopathy Online/email courses - next classes Sept 08