Gardasil puts new emphasis on value, safety of childhood vaccines
August 2nd, 2010 by Wendi Lewis
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.
Gardasil is promoted as a vaccine that can prevent cervical cancer. What it actually does is protect against four types of human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer. HPV is a sexually transmitted virus. However, the vaccine is promoted for girls as young as age 9, through about age 26. The vaccine is given in a series of three shots. At the height of its popularity, there was talk of making Gardasil a mandatory vaccination for school-age girls.
Many parents objected, saying in this case they should reserve the right to choose whether this vaccine was right for their daughters. Some were uncomfortable with subjecting their children to a vaccine linked to a sexually transmitted virus. They feared that by vaccinating their daughters – and explaining the reasons for the vaccination – they were essentially giving permission for their children to experiment with pre-marital sex.
Shortly after the vaccine began to be widely used, parents had more serious concerns, as reports of serious adverse effects – and even death – were linked to the Gardasil shots. Parents have reports incidents of paralysis, lupus, seizures and other negative reactions shortly after their children received the vaccine, which they insist is linked to the shot.
Only recently, the FDA extended approval for the drug, greenlighting its use for boys and young men. The drug’s purpose remains the same, to protect against four types of HPV. The logic is that boys can also transfer the virus to girls, putting them at risk for cervical cancer. The new use is also touted as a prevention against genital warts and possible development of anal cancer and possibly even throat cancer.
However, one of the leading researchers who worked on the development of Gardasil, Dr. Diane Harper, has since declared the drug to be “largely unnecessary.” She points out that the body automatically clears 90 percent of HPV infections on its own. She also warned that the drug was never fully tested on females – or males – younger than age 15, which makes its effect on this age group unknown.