A blistering backlash
When I sit down to write you, the last thing I want to get into is politics. But when politics touches on matters concerning your good health, I’m going to weigh in on it.
I’m giving a nod to the states that are listening to their constituents on the topic of Gardasil as a state-mandated vaccine. Georgia took a stand against the aggressive tactics of Merck and said, “Get out!” It did so despite the best efforts of one of its lawmakers, who had included $4.3 million in the state budget to provide the vaccine to anyone whose insurance wouldn’t cover it.
Gardasil is a vaccine that was developed for use against certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV), which can cause cervical cancer. Now before you think I’m in favor of cancer, you need to realize that this vaccine does little to protect women from the most treatable form of cancer. HPV is transmitted only through sexual intercourse, so Merck’s bright idea is to give the vaccine to 11- to 12-year-old girls!
And Georgia is not alone in giving a thumbs-down to this ridiculous—and invasive—idea. New Mexico’s governor, who had been expected to sign the bill into law in his state, executed a surprise maneuver and vetoed it. He decided there hadn’t been enough time for everyone to learn more about the vaccine, and thought it best to take a pass on it at this time.
Other states, for the most part, are also resisting this vaccine push—and kudos to them, as well. (I’m so used to talking about the FDA’s nonstop capitulation to the drug companies that I can’t help but be shocked when a government entity actually takes a stand!) So far, only Virginia has signed this vaccine mandate into law. Texas Governor Rick Perry tried to sign it into law, but the Legislature blocked the order—especially since this same governor had egg on his face from an ill-timed “campaign contribution” from Merck.
Parents, religious groups, and drug-company watchdogs have all been up in arms, each for their own reasons. Conservative religious groups are fighting back through their own strenuous lobbying effort. And parents are fighting against what they see as the state’s trying to control the welfare of their children. They prefer to handle themselves matters relating to their children and especially any discussions having to do with sex.
Merck’s little pharmaceutical hatchling, Gardasil, was no sooner out of the lab before the company launched a countrywide lobbying effort to get the states to mandate the cervical-cancer vaccine. Bills were next introduced in 23 states and the District of Columbia that would require 11- to 12-year-old girls to get the vaccine before they become sexually active.
Gardasil affords protection against only 70 percent of the strain of HPV that is known to cause cervical cancer. (There are about 100 different strains of HPV that have been discovered.) I talked more about this in my 5/4/07 edition of House Calls. The bone I have to pick with this vaccine is this: It’s a brand-new one—hot out of the lab and only recently put on the market. So, my rule on new vaccines bears repeating: Until a vaccine has been on the market for at least seven years, I would advise anyone to steer clear of it. The long-term side effects can’t get worked out until it’s on the market and a significant amount of time has elapsed.
And I would never recommend that you or an 11- or 12-year-old girl should ever be a human guinea pig for the drug companies!
