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Should girls be forced to receive HPV vaccine?
By Ben Wasserman - foodconsumer.org
Jan 31, 2007 - 11:24:46 AM
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Merck is vigorously lobbying state lawmakers to pass legislation to add its new vaccine against cervical cancer in the list of vaccinations that children are required to receive to be admitted into school, according to news reports.
Gardasil is the first vaccine the Food and Drug Administration approved in June 2006 for use in females ages 9-26 years to prevent cervical cancer, which in most cases results from infection of human papillomavirus or HPV. Trial results indicated that the recombinant vaccine is safe and effective against HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18, which are responsible for about 70 percent of the total cases of cervical cancer in women.
The trials were conducted for a short term (a few years) though, meaning that the long-term efficacy and safety of the vaccine remain unknown, which concerns some people. Because there is no absolutely guarantee that the cervical cancer vaccine won't cause any serious problem in each and every female, the FDA requests that adverse reactions and other problems related to the vaccine be reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System at www.vaers.hhs.gov.
HPV is a collective name for more than 100 different types of the virus among which more than 30 can be passed from one person to another through sexual contact. In the overwhelming majority of women, the body's own defense system will clear the virus and they don't develop any serious condition. But, because of the HPV infection, 10,000 women are expected to be diagnosed with cervical cancer and 3,500 die from the disease each year in the U.S.
Soon after the FDA approved the vaccine, the CDC's Advisory Committee made its recommendation on June 26, 2006 that "a newly licensed vaccine designed to protect against human papillomavirus virus (HPV) be routinely given to girls when they are 11-12 years old," paving the way for states to add the vaccine in their already crowded vaccination schedules for children. The recommendation of The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices "also allows for vaccination of girls beginning at nine years old as well as vaccination of girls and women 13-26 years old," according to the CDC.
With the federal government's approval and recommendation for the vaccine, Merck has started its dollar-empowered lobbying effort nationwide to get as many states as possible to add its vaccine in the list of required vaccines. As many as 18 states are considering a bill that requires young girls to receive three shots of the vaccine, which would cost $360. But so far, no state has yet to add the vaccine to the list of vaccines children must receive to be enrolled in school.
According to news reports, much of Merck's effort is invested in Women in Government which is an advocacy group of female state legislators around the country. "A top official from Merck's vaccine division sits on Women in Government's business council, and many of the bills around the country have been introduced by members of Women in Government," Seattle Post Intelligencer reported. Some watchdog accused Women in Government of being too cozy with Merck, which admitted it donated money to the organization.
"Cervical cancer is of particular interest to our members because it represents the first opportunity that we have to actually eliminate a cancer," Women in Government President Susan Crosby was quoted as saying. But critics say that the point is not to eliminate cervical cancer, it is about whether or not girls should be forced to receive the vaccine.
Some conservatives and parents'-rights groups that value premarital abstinence are concerned that this forceful vaccination would give girls an incorrect perception of sex safety and encourage girls to have premarital sex, which is discouraged or prohibited in many conservative families. The vaccine does not prevent sexually transmitted disease such as HIV other than some HPV infections.
Some state lawmakers, republican and democrat alike, said that it would be the public interest to require that girls receive the HPV vaccine.
"I look at this no different than vaccinating our children for polio," Rick Perry, the republican governor of Texas was quoted as saying. "If there are diseases in our society that are going to cost us large amounts of money, it just makes good economic sense, not to mention the health and well being of these individuals to have those vaccines available."
Critics argued that HPV infection is in no way comparable to polio. People get HPV because of their own lifestyle. But in the case of polio, people get infected involuntarily. This means that individuals should personally be responsible for HPV infection and forceful vaccination of the cervical cancer vaccine in girls is not warranted.
Dr. Joseph Mercola, a noted physician who promotes natural health, called the Merck’s vaccine worthless. He pointed out that HPV is behaviorally avoidable. He said “a New England Journal of Medicine study found the use of condoms reduces the incidence of HPV by 70 percent. By comparison, Gardasil counteracts four varieties of HPV that cause 70 percent of the cases of cervical cancer and 90 percent of genital warts.”
Dr. Mercola also said on his web site that “cancer prevention is not as simplistic as taking a vaccination. Maintaining a high level of immune integrity is the key, and this is done through the basics of emotional balancing, optimized nutrition, avoidance of toxins, proper sleep, exercise and hydration.” He suggested women better take care of general health and enhance their immune system to help the body to clear HPV infection naturally.
There is no argument that women have a right to receive the vaccine to reduce their risk of cervical cancer should they be concerned about the disease because of the lifestyle they follow. But likewise, many agree that people have a right to reject injection of any drug in their vein for any purpose.
Analysts said Merck can rake in 1 billion dollars in a year even without states’ requirement of the vaccine in young girls. With the states' requirement, the anti-cervical cancer vaccine can bring Merck much more business annually.
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