A cogent article against the HPV vaccine.
May. 3rd, 2007 03:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
aelfieUnfortunately, I can't post it because it came from a magazine I subscribe to and I'm not paying for an online subscription either. But (just in case you want to go hunt it down) Its on page 44, May/June 2007 of Mothering Magazine.
Basic argument. By age 50 over 80 of women are infected with one HPV virus (there are over 100 several of which cause cancer), Gardasil (by Merck) protects against 4 (2 that cause cancer, 2 that cause herpes). HPV is one of many co-factors that cause cervical cancer (smoking causes 30% alone), not the only reason you develop cancer. Gardasil uses aluminum hydroxide as a stimulant, which raises question about future cases of Alzheimer's (aluminum collects in the brain) and no real long term study has been done on the safety of aluminum hydroxide used in that fashion. Also, a Merck study on the immune response of the vaccine in pre- and adolescents, was not tested for safety past 14 days after injection (i.e. no check after day 15, so, no long term study). The other argument that struck me was that yearly Pap smears have reduced death by cervical cancer by 75% since the '60. The fear is those women with the vaccine might skip their annual exam (because they think they are covered), and thus miss cancer caused by one of the other HPV viruses.
To be devils advocate. I must point out that this magazine is subtitled "natural family living" so to begin with they aren't very pro-vaccinations in the first place. They are also against circumcision and pro-organics. Its a good mag, but it was very nice to see an article against the vaccine that didn't once bring up the idea that it would make young girls promiscuous.
Basic argument. By age 50 over 80 of women are infected with one HPV virus (there are over 100 several of which cause cancer), Gardasil (by Merck) protects against 4 (2 that cause cancer, 2 that cause herpes). HPV is one of many co-factors that cause cervical cancer (smoking causes 30% alone), not the only reason you develop cancer. Gardasil uses aluminum hydroxide as a stimulant, which raises question about future cases of Alzheimer's (aluminum collects in the brain) and no real long term study has been done on the safety of aluminum hydroxide used in that fashion. Also, a Merck study on the immune response of the vaccine in pre- and adolescents, was not tested for safety past 14 days after injection (i.e. no check after day 15, so, no long term study). The other argument that struck me was that yearly Pap smears have reduced death by cervical cancer by 75% since the '60. The fear is those women with the vaccine might skip their annual exam (because they think they are covered), and thus miss cancer caused by one of the other HPV viruses.
To be devils advocate. I must point out that this magazine is subtitled "natural family living" so to begin with they aren't very pro-vaccinations in the first place. They are also against circumcision and pro-organics. Its a good mag, but it was very nice to see an article against the vaccine that didn't once bring up the idea that it would make young girls promiscuous.
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no subject
Date: 2007-05-04 05:57 pm (UTC)The vaccine protects against the 2 most common strains that can lead to cervical cancer - they are responsisible for something like 80% or more of all HPV/cancer issues. The other two strains it protects against are the most common ones that cause genital warts - not herpes. So overall, (if it's working mind you), it should protect against a large percentage of the risk. Those four strains are the majority of infections that happen.
The long term stuff makes me scratch my head - it almost seems premature to release a vaccine without knowing how long it protects you for. Kaiser suggests getting it every 4 years.
no subject
Date: 2007-05-04 10:52 pm (UTC)Its also one of the reasons why I'm not giving my kids the chicken pox vaccination. They know for a fact that it does not give life long immunity. I'd rather my kids spend a week feverish, itchy, and miserable, than catch it when they are 30 and die.
I guess I just don't like the idea of my kids being the beta testers!
I hate Mothering Magazine
Date: 2007-05-28 11:34 pm (UTC)I could comment on the the actual topic of your blog, but all I can keep thinking is, "I hate Mothering Magazine," so I'll have to come back to HPV later.
moll.