The HPV Vaccine -- Merck's Corporate Profiteering Endangers Your Child's Health

re: The HPV Vaccine -- Merck's Corporate Profiteering Endangers Your Child's Health

Jimmy — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 16:45:15 GMT

According to a NJ newspaper:

Merck said yesterday it is immediately suspending its lobbying campaign to persuade state legislatures to mandate that adolescent girls get the company's vaccine against cervical cancer as a requirement for school attendance....

http://www.nj.com/starledger/stories/index.ssf?/base/business-0/117203625298570.xml&coll=1

re: The HPV Vaccine -- Merck's Corporate Profiteering Endangers Your Child's Health

Dr.G — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 12:19:07 GMT

This is a great subject. Being a recombinant vaccine the risks of serious adverse effects are small. However, cancer is not small. I am a Periodontist and we are seeing a rise in oral cancer in never-smokers/drinkers that we are almost sure is related to the HPV. A vaccine may have far reaching health effects that are very beneficial. Do you consider the Polio vaccine bad. I know people have things to gain, but if done right (which it may not be, esp. these days) the 3 personal friends with cancer and many others that I know would not having multiple cervical biopsies may not have been necessary. Maybe it is avoidable in a perfect world - which we should always strive for! But it's not. I would love to see the data on the following statement if possible.

"In case you aren't familiar with HPV, it's a sexually transmitted disease that's virtually 100 percent avoidable without a vaccine.

Additionally, most cases of the infection clear up on their own. HPV can be overcome by means such as adequate sunlight exposure and vitamin D consumption, supplementation with probiotics, adequate intake of selenium and zinc, increased consumption of trace minerals and iodine, and regular physical exercise."
Please realize I love the work you do, but even my wife calls me devils advocate man sometimes....
Respectfully,
Dr. G

re: The HPV Vaccine -- Merck's Corporate Profiteering Endangers Your Child's Health

Matilda_203 — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 05:22:53 GMT

About 15 years ago, I first heard of HPV at the hospital where I work. At that time, a physician group on staff was participating in an international research project on HPV. I asked one of the docs about it. Remember- this was 15 years ago. He said it was a virus that caused cervical cancer. That it was spreading so fast throughout the world that they estimated that within as little as 8 years- it could be considered a "normal flora." They had identified some 46 possible types of the virus. He said, like the herpes virus, it could lay dormat and the strength of the immune system could determine and even halt its progression. Further, the programs pushing condomn use and annual papsmear screening in the US would lower the prevalence. Quicker follow-up on abnormal cells on papsmears and enhanced papsmears were two
goals.
You gotta wonder if the vaccine is 100% necessary as the pharm co would like it to be and if in another 15 years- what will the effect of 100% vaccination be? I guess HPV would definitely be a "normal flora" then!!!

re: The HPV Vaccine -- Merck's Corporate Profiteering Endangers Your Child's Health

Integral Eve — Tue, 20 Feb 2007 03:35:37 GMT

Getting HPV is 100% preventable for women who manage to avoid being raped or sexually abused in some way. Not to mention women who want to be sexually active with the men who don't want to wear condoms (maybe because they've been circumcised, which removes the most sensitive part of the penis and the body replaces it with scar tissue which is much less sensitive). So while there are questions about the intentions of the drug company I'm curious about the possible real impacts on real womens' lives...

re: The HPV Vaccine -- Merck's Corporate Profiteering Endangers Your Child's Health

mmc88121 — Mon, 19 Feb 2007 17:08:56 GMT

This is a good article. It shows some of the "dark side" of the drug companies. And brings some interesting facts into the public view.

mmc88121