Menstuff® has compiled the following information on Gardasil.
It’s essential to do your homework before submitting yourself or
your child to a vaccination. As of August 2007, a review of the
National Vaccine Information Center revealed the following, quite
alarming, statistic about this unnecessary vaccine: 2,207 adverse
reactions to Gardasil have been reported. Among them: 5 girls died,
31 were considered life-threatening, 1,385 required a visit to the
emergency room, 451 of the girls have not recovered as of July 2007
and 51 of the girls were disabled. This vaccine is also the most
expensive vaccine on the market, so you can follow the money trail to
find out why Merck is now trying to push this cervical
cancer vaccine on boys! 
Perry facing criticism
anew for vaccine order
Hundreds of
Thousands of Reactions to
Gardasil
Reports on
Serious Vaccine Safety
Issues
Gardasil Vaccine
is a Flop for Good
Reasons
Gardasil May
Increase Your Risk of Cervical
Cancer
Time for the
Truth about Gardasil
Prominent
Scientist Warns of HPV Vaccine
Dangers
Don't
Give This to Your Daughter - Despite What Your Doctor
Says
The
HPV Vaccine: Preventive Care or Human
Sacrifice?
Will
the HPV Vaccine Soon be Mandatory for
Schoolgirls?
More
U.S. States Considering HPV Vaccine
Requirement
How
the U.S. Government is Covering Up HPV Vaccine Side
Effects
Why
India Has Stopped Giving HPV
Vaccines
Drug
Company Marketing Leads to HPV Vaccine
Rise
Gardasil
is Dangerous As Well As
Unproven
Big
Pharma's Dangerous Drive To Push Meds On Little
Kids
Perry facing criticism anew for vaccine order
He says he was trying to curb cancer. But it didn't take long for angry conservatives in the Legislature to override a measure they thought tacitly approved premarital sex — and for critics to accuse Perry of cronyism.
Today, Perry's again taking heat on the issue as he runs for president. He's seeking the nomination of a GOP heavily influenced by conservatives who are sour on the government dictating health care requirements.
He's both defending himself and calling his action a mistake
— illustrating the delicate politics at play.
Source: www.aolnews.com/story/perry-facing-new-criticism-for-texas/1924088
Hundreds
of Thousands of Reactions to Gardasil
http://bit.ly/e0J0KT
Healthy girls are having their health ruined by Gardasil -- get the facts before you vaccinate your daughter for HPV.
Reports
on Serious Vaccine Safety Issues
A new look at the adverse event reports reveals shocking
statistics, and Spain has actually taken the vaccine off their
market.
Gardasil
Vaccine is a Flop for Good Reasons
Find out why parents should not let their daughters take Gardasil
shots and learn the truth about HPV and cancer.
Gardasil
May Increase Your Risk of Cervical Cancer
Gardasil, a vaccine that protects against four human
papillomaviruses (HPV), is believed to increase the risk of cervical
cancer.
Time
for the Truth about Gardasil
Must-read information for anyone considering immunizing their
children with this vaccine.
What if you could protect your daughter against cervical cancer, a disease that kills 4,000 American women every year and often strikes during the reproductive prime years? What if, with just three shots, you could also keep her safe from one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases?
In June 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the world’s first-ever cancer vaccine. Called Gardasil, it can protect your little girl from cervical cancer and HPV. The vaccine is recommended to be administered to girls as young as 9 years old. It appears most parents choosing the vaccine for their daughters are bypassing discussion of HPV and sexual activity until a later and more appropriate date.
But there nonetheless figures to be plenty of discussion about the vaccine. Texas became the first state to require the vaccine for sixth-grade girls when Governor Rick Perry signed an executive order mandating it on Friday. The lobbyist for Gardasil's manufacturer, Merck, is Perry's former chief of staff, the New York Times reported. That did not sway the governor's decision, a spokesman for the governor told the Times.
No matter what you might think about government intervention for this vaccine, the experts seem to agree: Today’s young girls need all the protection they can get.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says Gardasil can effectively prevent cervical cancer and gential warts for preteens, but notes “compelling evidence” that the vaccine is less valuable to teenage girls and young women already exposed to the viruses that can cause those conditions. Plus, the FDA says the new vaccine could worsen cervical cancer for women who already have it (diagnosed or not).
So, even though the vaccine is recommended for girls as young as nine and up to young women in their mid-20s, there are questions about its effectiveness as girls become adults. Here are the most frequently asked questions about the new vaccine:
First, a quick review:
Gardasil protects against four different types of human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV, a sexually transmitted disease (STD) is the most common cause of cervical cancer in women. In fact, HPV is fairly common—about half of all sexually active adults acquire genital HPV in their lifetime, and more than 6 million Americans are newly infected every year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Protection.
One of the most important things to know about HPV is that it’s really a group of viruses and includes more than 100 different strains. Only about a dozen of these strains have the potential to cause cervical cancer. Of these “high-risk” strains, HPV types 16 and 18 cause about 70 percent of all cervical cancers. They are, without a doubt, the riskiest of HPV’s high-risk strains.
Luckily, Gardasil, which is manufactured by Merck and Co., is designed to protect women against HPV types 16 and 18. The vaccine also protects women against HPV strains 6 and 11, which do not cause cervical caner, but instead are responsible for nearly 90 percent of all cases of genital warts.
The vaccine is actually a series of three shots administered over a six-month period, and it is only recommended for young women ages 9 to 26. While men can’t develop cervical cancer they can carry the virus and help spread it. In rare instances, HPV infection in men can also lead to anal or penile cancer.
As for side effects: There may be some tenderness, swelling and redness where the injection goes, but that’s about it.
Here are more answers to common HPV vaccine questions:
How much does it cost?
Each shot costs $120, according to Deb Wambold, a spokesperson for Merck vaccines.
So, three pokes in the arm at $120 per poke adds up to $360 . Keep in mind, however, that this total doesn’t include the cost of the doctor’s visit or possible markup—it only covers the cost of the vaccine as stated by Merck.
Is it covered by insurance?
The uncomplicated answer : Yes
“Right now, there are 120 different insurance plans in the U.S. that have agreed to cover Gardasil,” says Wambold. This means that 96 percent of the nation’s insurance companies offer some coverage for Gardasil, she says.
But the complicated answer: Maybe
Even if your insurance company offers coverage for Gardasil, this doesn’t automatically mean your immunization is covered. Everything depends on what type of plan you’ve chosen, says Wambold who encourages people to call up their insurance companies and see. If your provider didn’t cover Gardasil last year, check with them again. “Many insurance companies updated their coverage at the start of the New Year,” says Wambold.
When Wambold was asked about "accessibility," she answered that the only problem they've seen is when doctors say '"I'm not administering it because my patients' insurance isn't covering it." Most public health officials are recommending that you call the doctor ahead of time, just to make sure the vaccine is available.
What if I’m underinsured or uninsured?
Vaccinating adults: In May 2006, Merck added Gardasil to its Patient Assistance Program— great news for anyone who is uninsured or unable to afford the vaccine. Merck’s Patient Assistance Program allows adults (ages 19 and older) to receive free vaccinations of Gardasil. The snags are this: You must find a doctor who normally provides Merck vaccines to their patients, and they must work in a private practice. You must also fill out a form stating your need, and the doctor’s office will then fax your form to Merck for approval. The standard turnaround time for approval is about 10 minutes, so, in theory, you can fill out your form and receive your shot in the same visit.
Vaccinating children: In November 2006, the CDC added Gardasil to its Vaccines for Children Program. This means that Medicaid-eligible, uninsured, underinsured and Native American girls ages 9 to 18 can now receive Gardasil vaccinations free of charge. More than 45,000 sites across the country provide this service, including hospitals, rural health centers and private and public clinics, according to the CDC.
Does the vaccine require an initial screening, like an HPV test or Pap smear?
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices doesn’t require young women and girls to receive an initial screening (Pap smear or otherwise) in order to be eligible for the HPV vaccine.
Does the invention of Gardasil make Pap tests obsolete?
Many women may wish this were true, but Gardasil doesn’t replace an annual Pap test. Women who have been vaccinated with Gardasil should still receive regular Pap tests and continue to be screened for cervical cancer, according to the National Cancer Institute. Here’s why:
The vaccine protects against HPV types 16 and 18, strains are responsible for most—but not all—of the cervical cancer cases. About 30 percent of the time, an entirely different high-risk strain (such as HPV type 31 or 45) causes the cancer. Also, the vaccine doesn’t work retroactively; if a woman is sexually active and exposed to HPV type 16 or 18 (or both) before immunization, she won’t be protected from these strains upon vaccination.
Why are just females ages 9 to 26 approved for vaccinations? What about men, babies and older women?
Merck and Co.’s first wave of research trials for Gardasil involved women ages 9 to 26. So, when the FDA approved the vaccine, it stuck with this target demographic. The good news is that Merck is currently working to expand Gardasil’s audience. The company is now testing the drug’s efficacy, safety and immune response in women ages 26 to 45 and in males ages 9 to 26. All of these trials are in the latter stages of research, according to Wambold. When, and if, the science proves beyond a reasonable doubt that Gardasil is safe for these populations, new FDA approvals will follow.
Vaccinating newborns is an entirely different story. Here, the most important question isn’t, “Is the vaccine safe and effective?” but “How long will Gardasil’s immunity last?”
Because the HPV vaccine is relatively new, scientists are still uncertain if Gardasil’s immunity will last a lifetime or if booster shots will be required. Because of this uncertainty, there’s a chance that vaccinating a newborn could result in a loss of HPV immunity by the time the child reaches an age of sexual activity. This scenario is possible, but unlikely, according to preclinical trials (Merck is currently testing the drug’s staying power). As a result, scientists at the CDC have recommended that parents wait until their daughters reach age 11 or 12 before being immunized.
Will my daughter’s school require her to get immunized?
School immunization requirements are a state decision. Currently,
a dozen or so states—like Maryland and Virginia—are
considering passing legislation to join Texas in making HPV vaccines
mandatory for girls entering middle school. As the sole manufacturer
of this type of drug, Merck and Co. will undoubtedly benefit if state
legislatures vote to require the vaccine. Consequently, the company
has admitted to funneling money into various female advocacy groups
around the country, like Women in Government. In turn, these advocacy
groups have expressed their support for mandatory HPV vaccinations.
For the time being, however, Texas stands alone in requiring the
vaccine.
Source: health.msn.com/womenshealth/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100154748
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