May 10, 2012

HPV Vaccine = Still A Big Fat NO

Posted by Bess
Recent research in an American Cancer Society journal about the HPV vaccine, Gardasil, shows that the younger girls who are getting the shots aren’t finishing up the series.  Three shots are required for the vaccine, the second spaced one month after the first, and the third 6 months after the second.  Several articles have speculated that the reason this is happening is that parents aren’t aware that three shots are needed.  More encouraging (advertising) from doctors would remind the parents and the girls that they must complete all three sticks.  Only 20 percent of the girls getting the shots complete the series and are therefore protected against the four strains of HPV most likely to cause cervical cancer.

BACK OFF MY PARENTING SKILLZ!
Amanda Marcotte over at RH Reality Check wrote an article yesterday called “Why Aren’t More Girls Getting the HPV Vaccine?”  

*Bess raises hand*  Pick me!  Pick me!

It could be that parents are reading the package insert.  Gardasil hasn’t been researched for many years at all.  What they do know is that the length of efficacy is only five years.  Boosters may be required (how many?  Three more, every five years?).  There are plenty of people arguing passionately that the side effects are worth the risks, and that’s just fine.  For their daughters.  Because I am not the parent of anyone else’s children and I don’t have the right to make decisions for them.  My daughters won’t be getting the shots (if the vaccine hasn’t been taken off the market by then).   

One thing I’ve not seen anyone address when “discussing” this issue is the duration of protection.  I’m not sure if the pro-Gardasil folks are OK with needing possibly indefinite boosters or what.  But again, I don’t care.  You do your thing with your kids and I’ll do mine.  

So why do these arguments always turn out the same?  As soon as I and another person commented with our answers to Amanda’s question, I mean she did ask a question, she fired off the tired “Oh?  Don’t agree? You’re a shitty parent.”  SIGH.  Here’s another passive-aggressive reply.  I’m sorry you feel that way. 
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2 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 10, 2012 at 9:28 AM

    The experts can't even agree on if it even works or not. Plus 130 dead teenagers and their families would disagree also that the benefits outweigh the risks. Oh, that's right, there's no proof the vaccine killed those girls, it's all a big fat coincidence and we will be adding Sudden Teenager Death Syndrome to our vocabulary. Talk to the Mom's now nursing chronically and devastatingly ill girls who were perfectly healthy, active, athletic, smart girls before Gardasil about risk. Talk to the girls that have lesions from the vaccine that they were suppose to be protected from and having to now get invasive procedures gynecological procedures at 13 and 14 years old. Talk to the girls with infertility problems and who suffered miscarriages after the vaccine. But hey, it's all a big coincidence and as long as they stick to that then following the vaccine more closely makes no difference when every reaction is denied. Makes one wonder what the true rate of serious reactions are? Their claiming zero proves they are liars and the all mighty dollar will always come before your children.

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    1. BessMay 11, 2012 at 6:34 AM

      Exactly. Maybe after 10 years of research it will be pulled off the market, like Vioxx, another Merck creation. And maybe it's just me, but I trust the parents of those vaccine-injured and killed parents more than I trust Big Pharma or even my doctor. They can deny the injuries and deaths surrounding Gardasil all they want, but I'm still going to err on the side of caution when it comes to my kids.

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