GARDASIL: SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT FORCE THE VACCINE?

What is HPV?

human papillomavirus, or HPV is a sexually transmitted disease.

HPV is the name given to a group of viruses that includes more than 100 different types.

Of these types Gardasil is a vaccine that protects women from the type of HPV that may cause cervical cancer.

Who Does HPV Effect?

About 5.5 million Americans become infected with HPV every year.

HPV effect more than 9 thousand women in the U.S. with the type that causes cervical cancer.

The government is trying to mandate that young girls get vaccinated against HPV before they enter 7th grade, which gives parents no choice in deciding if vaccinating their daughter is the right thing to do.

COST

Gardasil is given in 3 separate doses over a 6 month period; each dose costs $120.00, this adds up to $360.00.

Many insurance companies do cover the vaccine, but some do not cover it at full price. This leaves the doctors paying for the difference, which could be as much $118.00 out of the $120.00. This is only a difference of $2.

RESEARCH

The FDA did a 5 year study with Gardasil, involving women age 16-26.

The research involved a placebo controlled trial with over 20 thousand women.

These women followed up with visits for only 4 years after being vaccinated.

The problem with the research is that it was not done involving 9-12 year old girls; this is the age group the government is trying to mandate to be vaccinated.

Also the placebo used contained aluminum not saline. Aluminum is toxic to the nerves & nerve tissue. This may suggest that the toxicity of the vaccine is higher than we think.

SIDE EFFECTS

According to some experts Gardasil’s side effects are minor; just some pain at the injection sight.

On the other hand some experts wonder if Gardasil will cause autoimmune & neurological problems.

Another side effect may put young girls at risk for pelvic inflammatory disease, and appendicitis.

Since the research was done for only 5 years no one is sure what the long term side effects may be.

NOVEMBER 12,2007

She was walking through her house and collapsed. She told her mom she couldn't feel her leg. She was taken to the hospital.

-- Brittany is a twelve-year-old girl who doesn't like to sit still. She's played softball. She ran cross country.

Two weeks before Brittany’s collapse, Brittany received her first injection of Gardasil.

Two months later and after hours of physical therapy, Brittany still has no feeling in her left leg. Getting around is difficult, it is hard for her to walk and balance and she often needs help.

Brittany's doctors have diagnosed her with Acute Demyelinating Encephalomyelitis or ADEM. It is an inflammation of the brain that has been associated with a vaccination.

REMEMBER…

HPV is a sexually transmitted disease. Gardasil targets young girls 9-17 years old,

because we would like to think that this is the age group that is NOT sexually active.

Gardasil is not recommended for girls who are sexually active, because it does not treat HVP.

Young girls are naïve, if they know that HPV is transmitted sexually, and now they have the vaccine for this disease, some people are betting that a lot of young girls will become sexually active before they should.

IN CONCLUSION

Gardasil could save women's lives; preventing them from cervical cancer.

Mandating this vaccine may decrease the number of women who become infected with the type of HPV that causes cervical cancer.

Nevertheless, without being vaccinated, cervical cancer is rare and very treatable with yearly Pap tests.

The government should not have the right to force a vaccine on young girls based on future sexual activity; with very little time done on research, and not knowing what the long term side effects may be.