HPV Vaccine Should Not Be Given to Boys
Young males the latest target of Merck marketing campaign for Gardasil.
The Moxie Momma says pharmaceutical giant Merck is underselling the side effects of its HPV vaccine.
Diana Weber
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The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recently recommended the use of the Gardasil vaccine for boys 11 through 21 years. With reports of devastating side-effects and even death in girls, Gina Medvedz, Certified Nutrition Consultant asked, “If I wouldn’t give it to my daughter, why would I give it to my son?”
“My main concern as a holistic nutritionist is that parents have placed the well-being of their children in the hands of pharmaceutical companies that are looking for a profit,” said Medvedz, CNC at Wellness Transformations in Orefield and mother of two teenagers.
The pharmaceutical company, Merck has touted Gardasil to be a vaccination for four specific strains of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) protecting girls against those strains that are known to cause cervical and vaginal cancer and genital warts in boys.
Since FDA approval in 2006, more is being revealed by both the Center for Disease Control and other organizations about the vaccine's side effects.
According to the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) from the CDC , there have been a total of 71 deaths among those who have received Gardasil, three of which were male, as of September 15, 2011.
As many as 103 deaths have been linked to receiving the vaccination according to whistleblower websites like Truth About Gardasil, Health Freedom Alliance, and Office of Medical and Scientific Justice all emphasizing the tragic implications of Gardasil side effects and mistrust of Merck’s lobbying for legislation to mandate the Gardasil vaccination.
Out of 35 million doses distributed in the U.S. the number of deaths might seem small but the real concern is that Merck continues to market Gardasil as virtually side-effect free.
The CDC has received 20,096 reports of adverse side effects including blood clots, paralysis, seizures, Bells Palsy, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, and pancreatitis.
Most recently, according to the National Vaccine Information Center, 78 cases of genital warts have also been linked to receiving the Gardasil vaccine.
Dr. Diane Harper, the principal investigator for clinical vaccine trials with Merck and international expert on HPV science, has been quoted as saying, “Gardasil is not really a cervical cancer vaccine. The vaccine prevents HPV infection, not the development of cervical cancer.”
“Cervical cancer takes years to develop. Parents should be concerned because this vaccine was tested in the short term, and therefore it has not actually been proven to prevent cervical cancer, which is how it has been marketed to the public” said Medvedz.
If vaginal and cervical cancer are on the decline, as the CDC has stated, it is most likely due to more women having PAP smears and not the HPV vaccinations that have taken place since 2006.
“If you want to help your children prevent cancer, then you should eliminate refined sugar, aspartame, white flour, artificial colors, preservatives, MSG, and hydrogenated oils from their diets,” said Medvedz, “Increase the amounts of fresh fruits and vegetables, and their risk of developing all types of cancer will drastically reduce.”
William Jamison
8:57 am on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
To say that "...(t)he vaccine prevents HPV infection, not the development of cervical cancer” is the height of ignorance.
99.9% of cervical cancers are caused by HPV infection. This is established scientific fact.
Dr. Harper should be ashamed of spreading such untruths, and so should you.
Tara Zrinski
9:36 am on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
I am sure that Dr. Harper is not ashamed and states her position clearly as the principal investigator for the clinical trials and an internation expert on HPV science, nor am I.
William Jamison
9:52 am on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Please address the epidemiologic data that I cited. The connection between cervical cancer and infection with specific HPV genotypes is closer than the connection between smoking and lung cancer.
You are cherry-picking the views of people out there to support your antipathy against the vaccine. Far more learned people than Dr. Harper are four-square behind the vaccine because it will save lives and reduce morbidity.
William Jamison
9:57 am on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Before you respond to my last posting, please review this article to gain a better understanding of the potential negative consequences of your article. Because of your words, some young males may elect to forego vaccination, and as a result will go on to develop cancer.
http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/common-cancer-oropharyngeal-cancer-a-tongue-twister-involves-head-neck-article-1.1003367?localLinksEnabled=false
Tara Zrinski
10:20 am on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
The Gardasil vaccine is not used to prevent cancer in boys. It is used to prevent genital warts, a sexually transmitted disease. Boys ages 9 - 13 are being recommended the vaccine. Unless your boy is sexually active, the vaccine is superfluous. There are more risks that benefits and not enough research to say that Gardasil is safe. No one wants their child to get cancer or to promote cancer causing lifestyles or decisions. This is why parents agree to vaccinate their children regardless of pursuing any research beyond what they are provided in an office visit. Parents need to proactive in their own research and make informed decisions about what they put into their children.
Dr. Harper, whether you accept her credentials or not, is saying that HPV happens more frequently than you think and does not always cause cancer. She says many cases where HPV is present, and the PAP smear indicates irregular cells, the condition resolves itself within a year or more without causing cancer. It is the PAP smear that is leading to earlier diagnosis and treatment, not the vaccination.
The article you cited talks about sexually transmitted HPV among 50 year old men, of which the doctor interview, Dr. Posner says “The good news for these patients is that we have a 80%-95% chance of curing even advanced oropharyngeal cancers that are due to HPV.” He does not name the HPV strands that cause oral cancer.
Kelly Prentice
10:47 am on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Why would you take the chance on a brand new vaccine with 20,096 (CDC) reports of adverse side effects including blood clots, paralysis, seizures, Bells Palsy, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, and pancreatitis -- and death? No thank you, Merck. When you do your research, the risks far outweigh any benefit.
William Jamison
12:19 pm on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Actually, Kelly, what you are spouting is propaganda that has been manufactured by anti-vaccine groups. The side effects associated with these vaccines are no greater than those associated with any vaccines formulated for delivery by injection. There have been NO deaths associated with these vaccines. That is a falsehood that has been created to strengthen the argument against vaccination. What the propagandists leave out in their claim that these vaccines cause death is the uncomfortable but true fact that equal numbers of deaths also occur in unvaccinated groups of the same size as the group that's been vaccinated. These deaths occur from all types of causes that are NOT vaccine-related. But the propagandist would prefer that you not know that.
William Jamison
12:16 pm on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Tara, you are demonstrating the old saw that "a little knowledge is a dangerous thing."
As with cervical cancer in women, HPV-associated squamous cell head and neck carcinoma takes decades to develop, but in a fraction of infected individuals, it WILL develop nonetheless, and this will typically manifest itself in the 5th to 6th decade of life (i.e., 20-30 years AFTER exposure). As for the vaccine itself, both Gardasil and Cervarix prevent infection with HPV types 16 and 18. HPV type 16 is by far the most prevalent type found in cervical cancer (>50% of cases) but it is even MORE prevalent in head and neck cancers (>85% of cases). Therefore, because these vaccines prevent infection with HPV type 16, we can expect a reduction of upwards of 85% of cases of head and neck carcinoma in males that have received the vaccine.
I hope this information will be helpful to you.
John Flood
3:26 pm on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
I am the father of a daughter who was injured by Gardasil. My daughter was on an academic and athletic scholarship to college when she magically had all kinds of autoimmune issues shortly after the vaccine. She had to leave college, and two and a half years later, has still been unable to return. She was so sick for about 6 months that we feared that she might die. I am all for a safe vaccine for HPV. Neither Gardasil or Cervarix is and the FDA and Merck should be ashamed for allowing it on the market in it's current form.
By the way, VAERS has over 100 deaths associated with the HPV vaccine and just a little research will show you that there are double the serious side effects with this vaccine vs. Menactra. Check out www.medalerts.org
Tara Zrinski
5:46 pm on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Thank you William and John for your dialogue. I know this is a controversial issue and I believe dialogue is a good thing even when it becomes heated. It can both educate and evaluate. I really appreciate John sharing the story about his daughter; you are not alone.
skylover123
9:41 pm on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
See most people dont dare touch this right here but it happens every single day and in fact this is the most common way people catch this disease through someone you trust that has two or more sexual partners.
herpesdateonline.com ---The most active and completely anonymous community for singles with with Herpes (HSV-1, HSV-2), HPV (Human Papilloma Virus), HIV/AIDS, and other STDs.
How would you feel if you had contacted HIV/AIDS from a partner you trust and love
HIV is not something people can nor should they go through alone. I have found my love on the largest HIV support and dating site herpesdateonline.com . To all of us who positive stay strong and need people to win this fight, whether it’s family, friends or a support group, people are the key.herpesdateonline.com is such a free site.
skylover123
9:43 pm on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
See most people dont dare touch this right here but it happens every single day and in fact this is the most common way people catch this disease through someone you trust that has two or more sexual partners.
herpesdateonline.com ---The most active and completely anonymous community for singles with with Herpes (HSV-1, HSV-2), HPV (Human Papilloma Virus), HIV/AIDS, and other STDs.
How would you feel if you had contacted HIV/AIDS from a partner you trust and love
HIV is not something people can nor should they go through alone. I have found my love on the largest HIV support and dating site herpesdateonline.com . To all of us who positive stay strong and need people to win this fight, whether it’s family, friends or a support group, people are the key.herpesdateonline.com is such a free site.
Kelly Prentice
10:09 pm on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Thank you, John, for sharing your story. I have a story about my son's scary neurological reaction to a vaccine that I delayed (in fear of its side effects). I made the wrong decision in giving him this vaccine, there is no doubt in my mind.
It makes me angry that we cannot trust the American Pediatric Association.
William, you are very convincing with your arguments, but incorrect. I have learned my lesson firsthand and will NOT be sending him for the Gardisil vaccine.
skylover123
10:48 pm on Tuesday, January 10, 2012
See most people dont dare touch this right here but it happens every single day and in fact this is the most common way people catch this disease through someone you trust that has two or more sexual partners.
herpesdateonline.c o m ---The most active and completely anonymous community for singles with with Herpes (HSV-1, HSV-2), HPV (Human Papilloma Virus), HIV/AIDS, and other STDs.
How would you feel if you had contacted HIV/AIDS from a partner you trust and love
HIV is not something people can nor should they go through alone. I have found my love on the largest HIV support and dating site herpesdateonline.c o m . To all of us who positive stay strong and need people to win this fight, whether it’s family, friends or a support group, people are the key.herpesdateonline.com is such a free site.
Dan Kegel
9:37 pm on Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Tara, HPV causes cancer in men, too: anal cancer, head/neck cancer, and penile cancer, so the vaccine absolutely will prevent disease in boys as they grow up.
I've read the literature and looked at the data on HPV vaccine safety, and Gardasil appears to be as safe as William says; although VAERS has about 34 reports of deaths, if you look closely, none of those deaths appear to be caused by Gardasil... and even if some of them were, that equates to roughly 1 in a million chance of death.
The risk of dying from cervical or anal cancer are about 1 in 417 and 1 in 5000 in the US.
I don't know about you, but I'll take 1 in a million chance of death to 1 in 5000 any day! My son is *definitely* getting vaccinated. And, if you care about your children's health, so should yours.
See http://kegel.com/hpv for more info about hpv and cancer.
Tara Zrinski
8:23 am on Thursday, January 12, 2012
Dan, no doubt that HPV effects men too but, the vaccine, if given to 9 - 13 year old boys will not necessarily prevent them from being infected in adulthood. There are many other factors that contribute to cancer as well. Plus, there have been no long term studies of this vaccine and I believe that is a concern.
When the Varivax vaccine came out, my older children got it and I was told it was not a live virus and that there was no chance of getting chicken pox. Within days, I had chicken pox and so did my children after receiving the vaccination. Still the doctors say there was no link to the their getting the chicken pox and getting the vaccine. This experience has made me leery of information presented and I don't necessarily want my children to be the guinea pigs.
The number of "reported" deaths according to the CDC is 71 with 20,096 reported cases of individuals reporting side effects. There may be more but these were the ones reported to the CDC.
Every parent makes his or her own choice regarding vaccination. Like I said, there are many sides to this and a lot of information out there. Parents need to discern for themselves through their own research.