Alphagamuga:

You can do a Google search on Swine Flu Vaccine to read . Here is an interesting article from a doctor who opposed the vaccine:
http://www.whale.to/vaccines/kalokerinos13.html

More than 500 people are estimated to have been paralysed from the Swine Flu vaccine.. and estimates of anywhere from 50 to 500 people died as a direct result.

There was no swine flu pandemic. The government, as usual, jumped the gun.

Absolutely - I had a heart condition that got repaired last year; it was semi-serious, but one of the first things my parents read about it said something like "leading cause of immediate cardiac arrest." That didn't exactly help their handling of the situation, and I ended up having hourly messages seeing how I was doing until they talked with my cardiologist.

Knowledge is power, and I understand the benefits of having access to this information, but I think sometimes things can go too far. At some point, you just have to trust your doctor (whether it's a 1st, 2nd or 10th opinion).

OK, this incident you're talking about happened in 1976 according to that link. Sorry, but medical research is handled very differently today than it was then, and a number of the companies doing vaccines today weren't even around then.

In what way is it handled differently today than it was then?

Why are you also discounting my other RECENT examples?
Vioxx, Bextra, Fen phen, Redux? Rezulin, Seldane, Posicor, Duract, Hismanl, Raxar, Propulsid, Lotronex, Baycol?

As far as being in business.. the company in question regarding Gardasil-- Merck-- has been around for more than 300 years.

Sanofi-- one of those licensed to make Swine Flu vaccine in 1976, is still in the flu vaccine business today.

I usually make it a point not to respond, but just a little tidbit of misinformation to be corrected. Merck has been around a little over 100 years.

http://www.merck.com/about/

At least there are no ridiculous .org links in this post.

Even if it does contain completely wrong info.

What info is "completely wrong?"

From the same link:
They were in chemicals a lot longer than pharmaceuticals. The pharmaceutical research began in the 30's. Not that I know why this portion of whatever point you're trying to prove is relevant.

Centaur.. I was responding to this:

I think we should all just be aware of what is known, what the testing included, and make the best decisions we can with the help of our doctors.

While Blueangel's point about harmful "medicine" is worth considering (there have been FDA approved drugs on the market that did serious harm to people; it doesn't make sense to deny it.), I'm sure we can all think of vaccines and treatments that we are glad that we have access to.

I don't think any state has any business requiring this vaccine for school attendance, but I think if the vaccine can deliver on expectations, young women should get it before they become sexually active. Perhaps rather than spending money lobbying states to require the vaccine, Merck should focus it's advertising at teens and get states to subsidize it the cost at health departments.

Personally, if I were a parent and had a daughter, I would definitely have a talk with her but ultimately make the decision.

I realize we take tons of immunizations as children, but those have been around for a VERY long time.... and I feel like this one is still way too new for me to be comfortable with it.

Has it been tested for long term effects? How do we know this vaccine might cause other types of medical problems?

Based on a news story, the vaccine only guards against a very very small percentage of strains of HPV (I think the total number was something around 4 out of 28) and the medical field wasn't even 100% sure that those 4 (or whatever the number was) are the "main ones" that cause cervical cancer.

I don't like that Gov. Perry used his "exective order" before letting the people know what was going on and giving our elected officials a chance to speak for us. If that's what he's gonna be like, I only see him as another "W" if he truly is going to run for President like some reports say he might.

blueangel, I was not discounting the more recent examples you gave. I specifically replied (using the quote function) to your point about the swine flu.

Vaccines of today and in the future are largely based on bioscience/biotechnology, just as cancer treatments are, and biotechnology did not really start to take off until the past few decades as we've gained access to more complex technology and manufacturing techniques.

Please try to keep in mind that the vast majority of drugs and biotherapies approved in this country do wonders for people's health and quality of life. EVERY drug has side-effects, even the Tylenol people take for headaches. Aspirin, which actually helps the heart health of some people, can seriously harm others. Patients and their doctors must consider the benefits vs. risks in every medication they put in their body, and it's the truth that in most instances, the benefits outweigh the risks.

I stongly agree with this statement and if I had kids, I wouldn't even think twice about getting them vaccinated.

That was the first thing I noticed too. 30 years is a LONG time....