Think Twice about that HPV Vaccine

[Guest guest]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/yvonne-k-fulbright/think-twice-about-that-hp_b_111\

486.html

K. Fulbright

Think Twice about that HPV Vaccine

Posted July 8, 2008 | 03:19 PM (EST)

Read More: Aluminum Toxic, Gardasil, Health, Hpv, HPV Vaccine, Hpv Vaccine

Aluminum, Hpv Vaccine Risks, One Less, Vaccine Risks, Vaccines, Living News

You might want to think twice before getting your

daughter vaccinated. Sure, the government and

many physicians have recommended that girls and

young women receive the HPV vaccine. But it may

have been plugged prematurely. With over 8,000

(and growing) reports of adverse effects, many

are now wondering if the vaccine poses health

risks of its own. From nausea to paralysis to

death, many parents, physicians and patient advocates are raising the alarm.

Controversial since its debut in June 2006,

Merck's HPV vaccine Gardasil has been

administered to millions of girls and women

worldwide. Recommended for females ages 9 to 26,

it is meant to prevent cervical cancer and

genital warts. Proponents hope that it will prove

itself a lifesaver. About 3,500 women die annually from cervical cancer.

I haven't publicly shared my opinions on this

vaccine, but I've always felt uneasy about it.

Drug companies have proven themselves a bit too

eager to roll out their latest product, with the

general public ultimately becoming their guinea

pigs. I have told people in my personal circle

that, if I had a daughter, I would not have her

vaccinated. This vaccine is still so new. There's

so much we don't know. And there are no guarantees.

While there are over 100 different types of HPV

strains, at least 30 of which can cause genital

warts, the vaccine only targets four of them. Two

of these strains - 6 and 11 - cause approximately

90% of genitals warts. Strains 16 and 18 cause

about 70% of cervical cancer cases. As with other

new vaccines, it's unclear how long the protection will last at this point.

Another issue at play is the fact that we simply

don't know enough about the vaccine,

specifically, its long-term effects. Gardasil

contains aluminum and nobody knows how that may

eventually impact a female's fertility.

Furthermore, the vaccine has not been tested as

far as how it may interact with other childhood vaccinations.

Finally, with the number of cervical cancer

deaths decreasing every year, you have to wonder

if Gardasil's benefits outweigh the risks.

Medicine is doing really well with Pap smears and

other screening tests, which all women should

have regardless of vaccination status. Women can

still get cervical cancer, even despite the vaccine.

So what are the risks of vaccination?

Parents, health practitioners, and public

interest group Judicial Watch are reporting cases of:

oChronic illness

oNausea and vomiting

oFevers, pain, and itching

oPancreatitis

oMassive wart outbreaks (Gardasil can make HPV symptoms even worse!)

oSeizures

oMuscle weakness and trouble breathing

oAutoimmune disorders, like Guillain-Barré syndrome

oBrain inflammation

oParalysis and Bell's palsy

oSpontaneous abortion and fetal abnormalities

Of 18 deaths under investigation due to the

timing of vaccination, nearly one-quarter cite " blood clots. "

Yet Merck, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) claim

that Gardasil is safe and effective - that there

is no direct link to any illnesses reported after

vaccinations or deaths. In their view, Gardasil

seems safer than most vaccines with its reported

serious side effects " half the average. " In their

view, these potential adverse effects are simply coincidental.

They claim that studies around the world have

found no serious side effects so far. If

anything, females may experience soreness around

the injection site and pass out (which can happen

during any type of vaccination). So what's a parent or young woman to do?

As with any vaccine, you need to weigh the pros

and cons. You need to solicit expert advice from

trusted resources and include your daughter in

that conversation. Regardless of what you decide

to do, you need to educate yourself and your

youth about how HPV is transmitted and what

lovers can do to protect themselves from

infection. You need to inform your youth of the

importance of sexual and reproductive health

care, including regular Pap smears. Just don't

" sit " as you wait to learn more about HPV vaccines.

The CDC is promising to better scrutinize the

data. In the meantime, Merck is facing major

lawsuits while trying to convince the FDA to

approve Gardasil use for other segments of the population, including your boys.