Beasley, Allen, Crow, Methvin, Portis & Miles, P.C.

S.A.N.E. VAX, Inc., is newly established non-profit organization dedicated to promoting  safe, affordable, necessary and effective vaccines and vaccination practices through education and information. Its mission is two-fold: to provide information individuals need to make informed decisions prior to vaccination, and to help people locate appropriate medical and legal assistance if they or a loved one suffers from a serious adverse event after a vaccination. The organization is beginning its work with a critical evaluation of the drug Gardasil.

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There is a push to expand the distribution of the Gardasil vaccine, manufactured by Merck & Company, to boys, as recent studies are linking the development of throat cancers to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV). Gardasil is currently marketed as a treatment for girls and young women for the prevention of cervical cancer, which also is caused by HPV. HPV is a sexually transmitted virus. Gardasil protects against four types of HPV, two of which are most often linked to the development of cervical cancer.

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The Green Valley News & Sun recently published a column by Dr. Charles Barta, a retired physician and medical director for health care insurers. He also previously served in a management position with Pfizer pharmaceutical company, in the Medical Systems Division. This physician weighed in on the benefits vs. risks of the Gardasil vaccine, manufactured by Merck & Company and marketed as a preventive treatment against cervical cancer. Merck recommends the vaccine for girls as young as 9, and many states are jumping on the bandwagon to mandate the vaccine for school-age children. Dr. Barta warns that the risks of Gardasil may outweigh any possible benefits, and cautions against a knee-jerk reaction advocating for mandatory vaccinations.

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A recent study, funded by Merck Research Laboratories, a division of Merck & Company, which manufactures and markets the Gardasil vaccine, is touting the drug for use not only as protection against cervical cancer, but also to prevent genital warts and other low-grade cervical growths. The study uses its findings to also promote expansion of the drug’s target market to include boys and young men. Previously, the drug has been targeted at girls beginning at age 9.

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Recently a young woman posed a question to the “Ask the Expert” section on the Healthy Women (HW) website. The site is the nation’s leading independent health information source for women, providing information and answers about women’s personal health care questions for more than 20 years. The 32-year-old woman said she asked her health care provider about an HPV test, but the doctor told her she doesn’t need it, and she wondered why.  HPV stands for human papillomavirus, a sexually transmitted virus that can cause cervical cancer. Isn’t all preventive testing a good thing, she wondered? The answer may surprise you.

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Missiouri Governor Jay Nixon recently signed House Bill 1375, which will provide funding for educational materials about human papillomavirus (HPV) and its connection to cervical cancer to young women and their parents. According to information about the bill on the official website for the governor’s office, the legislation requires the development of a brochure regarding HPV that will promote immunization for girls and boys. Currently, Gardasil, manufactured by Merck & Co., is the vaccine administered in the U.S. for the prevention of HPVs linked to cervical cancer.

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Especially at this time of year, with the new school season about to start, the issue of childhood vaccinations comes to the forefront. Schools require a number of vaccinations before children can begin classes. The goal, of course, is to keep kids safe. Vaccines are designed to protect children from diseases like chicken pox and mumps – illnesses that can easily spread among children if they are not prevented. Most parents, while concerned about giving their children any type of medical treatments, feel fairly comfortable with administering standard childhood vaccines. However, in 2006 a new type of preventive vaccine was proposed for young girls, which caused concern on many levels. The vaccine is Gardasil, manufactured by Merck & Co.

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