HPV Vaccine: Mandatory?

[blueangel]

Originally Posted by kddani

Can you say "agenda"?

PM_Mama00, I hope that your sister that works in the pharmacy is a cashier or general store manager or something and not a pharmacist or a pharm tech, because that would be scary that she's giving out misinformation like that.

Oh, absolutely! They definately have an agenda.. but doesn't Merck? The sale of the drug is expected to reach $1 billion dollars next year and could reach $3 billion per year. Merck has a lot riding on this vaccine. Don't forget, it's still smarting from all of the money it lost when Vioxx was pulled from the shelves.

The whole "seeding" of this vaccine was done brilliantly. When the company was close to FDA approval, it established a website "educating" the public of the connection between HPV and cancer. A consumer group has harshly criticized Merck for this, calling the website "deceptive" and "dishonest" and alleging that the site was only there to sell Gardasil.

The company then started bombarding the airwaves, magazines and newspapers with HPV "awareness." It then courted conservative political groups to try to ward off anticipated objections.

Merck has been doing some heavy duty lobbying among lawmakers as well, including courting the non-partisan group of female legislators, "Women in Government." For the past year, they've been bombarding the media with massive print and broadcast ads.

This whole thing has been carefully orchestrated to win over legislators and put lots of money in their pockets.

Aren't we jumping the gun on a mandate like this? Gardasil was only approved by the FDA in June of last year. Personally, I would like to take a "wait and see" attitude before rushing in and vaccinating the masses. We're only beginning to see the side effects of the vaccine, and the long term side effects are not known.. neither is how long the vaccine will act as a prophylactic aginst HPV.

Consider these facts:

-It will not fully protect everyone who receives the vaccine.

-There are more than 100 different types of HPV. Gardasil only protects against four types.

-Even if a woman is exposed to HPV, including one of the four types Gardasil protects against, there are no complications in the vast majority of women.

-It will not protect you from HPVs that you've already been exposed to.

-Women who have received the injections must still have yearly pap tests.

-Cervical cancer is already on the decline in the US. It's very treatable and there is usually a very good outcome when caught early (hence, PAP tests).

-Cervical cancer only accounts for less than 1 percent of all female cancers.

So... is it enough to run out and get your daughter vaccinated? Only you can decide. Oh wait.. you can't... if you live in Texas, the government has already decided for you.