Ten Facts about HPV and GARDASIL

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Girls 'should get cancer jab at 11'

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uploaded by bjtindle

 
The invitation to vaccination campaign, initiated by Merck, promoting their product, GARDASIL, the first vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use against two human papilloma viruses or HPVs that have been identified as causing the majority of cervical cancers, invites women and girls to be One Less person to become a victim of cervical cancer by getting vaccinated with GARDASIL.  
 
The money/profit motive truly shouldn't be discounted when looking for the rationale behind this stampede to vaccinate the young. Minimally, more research is needed before the green light is given to incorporate yet another series of vaccines, with questions still being raised about all the shots children receive at present!
 

The ties among so many of the universities, organizations, researchers and physicians with the pharmaceutical companies, obviously, ties that should not be viewed as an outright indictment of anyone or any groups' motives but, nonetheless, do give one pause!
 
I've read a physician's statement, regarding the insert that accompanies GARDASIL, challenging Merck's claim that GARDASIL prevents cancer. The physician states that the period of growth associated with cervical cancer growth is 8 to 12 years. If the longest time period any study participants were followed during the GARDASIL trials was 4 or 5 years, according to Merck's own literature, a claim that GARDASIL prevents cancer, without data spanning that 8 to 12 years, is disingenuous.
 
This physician offered musings that by vaccinating against selected HPVs, this may cause some of the remaining HPVs to become more virulent or resistant.     
 
More than half of the vaccines used in the U.S. are distributed by Vaccines For Children (VFC). At present, to the best of my knowledge, 50 of the 55 offices or arms of the VFC have purchased GARDASIL for distribution in the U.S. through that program. When the worldwide distribution plan is viewed, well, that adds a whole 'nother layer to all of this!
 
Ultimately, all of this technology is a brave new world with research running ahead, doing what it does. I guess I'm a worrywart but, slowing down a bit wouldn't hurt!  

The National Vaccine Information Center, a parent lead organization, states as its purpose “....to prevent vaccine injuries and deaths through public education. NVIC provides assistance to parents whose children have suffered vaccine reactions; promotes scientific research to investigate vaccine safety and effectiveness as well as to identify factors which place individuals at high risk for suffering vaccine reactions; advocates the institution of oversight mechanisms and informed consent protections within the mass vaccination system to make it safer.”

Via snail mail, I received literature about the organization which included information, with the stated aim, to benefit anyone wishing to learn more about HPV and the HPV vaccine, GARDASIL.

A leaflet, entitled Get the facts about HPV and GARDASIL vaccine to make an informed decision, provided the following facts:

1. 
   

   HPV infection is naturally cleared by more than 90% of sexually active women and men but, rarely, HPV infection can become chronic.

2. 
   

   Among high risk factors for chronic HPV infection are smoking: co-infection with herpes, chlamydia, or HIV; long term birth control use; multiple births.

3. 
   

   Women chronically infected with HPV, who don't get pre-cancerous cervical lesions promptly identified and treated, can get cervical cancer and die.

4. 
   

   After pap screening became routine in the 1950's, cervical cancer cases in the U.S. dropped 74%.

5. 
   

   Less than 1% of all diagnosed cancer cases and cancer deaths in the U.S. every year involve cervical cancer.

6. 
   

   Merck's GARDASIL vaccine was studied for several years in less than 1200 girls under age 16 and a few hundred girls age 11 or younger.

7. 
   

   GARDASIL contains only 2 of 15 HPV types associated with cervical cancer and it is unknown if it will prevent cervical cancer long term or if it will increase the risk for those actively infected with HPV types in the vaccine.

8. 
   

   Reported GARDASIL reactions include sudden collapse, seizures, facial paralysis, Guillian Barre Syndrome, arthritis and other serious health problems.

    9.   It is unknown if GARDASIL will cause infertility, cancer or damage genes.

   10. There is no pre-licensure data proving it is safe to give GARDASIL with most of the other vaccines for  children.

www.nvic.org