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03/18/2007: "Another Vaccine"
I had never heard of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) until the drug company Merck started advertising their newly FDA approved vaccine, Gardasil. Once approval was given, Merck started an awareness campaign to scare us into believing that HPV is a viral epidemic. In the words of Margaret McGlynn, Merck's president for vaccines: "Each and every day that a female delays getting the vaccine there is a chance she is exposed to human papillomavirus." Funny that it was never a public concern before this.
Merck's campaign has been successful because in February, Rick Perry, governor of Texas, signed an executive order making vaccination with Gardasil mandatory for all 11 and 12-year old girls entering the Texas public schools. Now that I know about how drugs get approved and how this one has never been tested on young girls, I am concerned. I feel like adults who want to take Vioxx (quickly approved by the FDA and then pulled years later for killing people) are responsible enough to own that risk. But when we force a vaccine that has not been tried and trusted on young children, that is a different story.
I have not become this cynical because of my cancer and studies. Unfortunately, I have been wary of vaccines given to our children for close to 10 years. We are one of those families believing that childhood vaccines helped bring on autism in our daughter. Mercury based preservatives have since been banned, but back then managed to add levels of heavy metal into our babies around 100 times greater than “recommended.” When people my age were infants, we got 4 vaccines. Kids today receive close to 25 different drugs injected into their young developing systems.
We watched our beautiful little girl fall apart. I would hope that no other parent has to go through that for the benefit of the drug companies.
Replies: 5 Comments
on Saturday, March 24th, chris said
About 15 years ago as a young woman I became aware of HPV when I was diagonosed with it. Yes - there was a test for this back then. Many young women have this (you'd be surprised) and it's taken a long time for it to become part of the public awareness. There is a link to HPV (some strains) and cervical cancer. While condoms need to be used to make sex safer - they're not 100% foolproof for STDs. A vaccine for this is good and if I had a daughter I would have her vaccinated for this.
on Thursday, March 22nd, Christina said
Mia you should also tell your daughter condoms don’t completely protect against HPV, Herpes, and Genital Warts and some other STDs.
I guess you all are lucky that most of us were vaccinated and had our children vaccinated against Small Pox, Polio so you don’t now have to have your children vaccinated.
Many childhood diseases have been eradicated by the use of vaccines.
Everyone wants a cure for Cancer, both my parents died of Cancer, I think prevention is better. I have a 7 year old granddaughter and I hope my son has her vaccinated prior to her becoming sexually active. And I can’t see him or Karen sitting down and talking to Avery about sex and the use of condoms.
on Tuesday, March 20th, Doug said
Hey you,
You obviously hit a hot topic. The more I learn about HPV the more I get scared. Did you know there isn't even a test for men and as carriers they expose women yet men may never show a symptom, so they never know they are even exposing others. Many of todays teens are very 'free' with their ideas on sex, and many still have unprotected sex. I could go on. It's just very frightening, especially having two teenagers myself. However, I do have issues with mandating the vaccine. That's a very political battle.
But hey-how you doin! Would love to see your face in person, but I still love your pics on your blog. Hope you're feeling good with this Spring weather. Love Cindy
on Tuesday, March 20th, Mia said
I too am one of those parents who drives my children's pediatrician crazy by opting out of vaccinces. I also drive their public school crazy by telling them I know I can sign a waiver when they try and tell me I can't.
Unfortunately mandatory vaccines in this country are too driven by the almighty dollar and not by public health. Getting your vaccine on the list means millions of dollars a year. Texas made the HPV shot mandatory and just so happens one of the key politicians to make it happen used to work for the company that now makes the vaccine. Go figure!
The HPV vaccine only offers protection from a few strains. It won't protect you from a couple dozen other. My OB screens for HPV since Kaiser now does the screening whenever you have a pap. Funny how she told me not to worry if it came back positive. The percentage of HPV + people who actually get cervical cancer are quite small. Most of the time your immune system supresses the virus. Women who test positive one year can test negative the next. My last screening came back negative for what it's worth but I wouldn't have lost sleep over it either way.
If I had a sexually active teenage daughter I would tell her to use condoms every time. Then she wouldn't be exposed to HPV and more importantly HIV. Safer than a shot. Too bad abstinence is now what the Bush administration is putting it's funding behind (increasing the funding some 30 million in 2005 & 39 million in 2006 - the power of the Christian Right). We all know how well that works.
Needless to say Carly won't be getting this latest wonder shot.
on Sunday, March 18th, Christina said
Roc the HPV vaccine was developed and tested in Australia. There is also a screening method used for HPV in women over 40. HPV is sexually transmitted and the cause of most cervical cancers. I’m not surprised you never heard of HPV the screening method has only been around for 4 or so years. If I had a sexually activated teenage girl I would have her vaccinated. You have cancer I don't think you would want that for your girl.
