read time: 1,243 words (another wordy one), about 6 minutes

So why are there state legislatures and Governors all racing to require young girls – children – to skyrocket Gardasil to the ranks of mega blockbuster for Merck? After all, they’ve taken a bit of a fall with Vioxx – a drug they with held information about the dangers on resulting in blockbuster sales for them and deaths for innocent people.

Reportedly Virginia Gov. Kaine is going to sign it into law today and Kentucky is not far behind. And of course Texas Gov. Perry didn’t wait around for the Texas Legislature.

The notion of this boggles my mind.
Gardasil was fast tracked and approved by the FDA in June, 2006… 9 months ago and magically a swath of politicians – clearly doing no independent research and spouting the Merck line just as enthusiastically as their paid for commercials – are forcing it on young girls.

Why is this?

Let’s look at some more details about this bandwagon rage likely to turn into a regrettable scandal in the future.
(This isn’t the first post on the topic. You’re welcome to read the prior posts as well).

If you’re considering Gardasil for yourself or your child, or you know someone who is, I could not more strongly encourage you to do your own independent research.

And even then, I would wait awhile for more information to come out. This drug has been on the market a mere 9 months. Taking Vioxx as an example (and there are many other examples), it takes some time before the ramifications and – in some cases – covered up facts come out. Unfortunately, many suffer and sometimes die before that happens.

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)

• Chronic infection with HPV is associated with 70% of cervical cancer cases.
• There are about 150 strains of HPV; 30 are associated with cervical cancer.
• About 1 in 4 US women between 14 and 59 have HPV (CDC). (Males also have HPV and spread it).
• HPV is transmitted during sexual intercourse.
• Condoms reduce the infection rate of ALL HPV strains by approximately 70%.
• Approximately 90% of all infections will be cleared by the immune system. (Poor nutrition, smoking, birth control and weakened immune system decrease your ability to clear the infection).

Cervical Cancer

• Between 1955 and 1992 cervical cancer deaths in the US decreased by 74%. (primarily because of PAP smears – early detection).
• The death rate continues to decline by about 4% a year.
• There are approximately 9,700 incidents of cervical cancer a year (in the US); about half of them in 35-45 year olds.
• There are 3,670 cervical cancer deaths estimated in 2007.
• About 1% of treated pre-cancers progress to cancer.

Gardasil

• Prevents 2 of the HPV strains (types 16 & 18) that are associated with cervical cancer.
• The CDC just last week published a study which found these two strains to be present in 3.4% of the sample population they examined.
• Gardasil was NEVER proven to prevent cervical cancer. It was tested for 4 years. No one in the test group or control group got cancer. Merck ASSUMED an abnormal pre-cancerous PAP was an indication of future cancer. So the claim that Gardasil prevents cancer has NOT been proven.
  What they showed was: Gardasil prevents abnormal pre-cancerous PAP smears due to types 16 & 18 HPVs in women who had not been infected prior to receiving Gardasil.
• It is not known what effect giving Gardasil to women who are already infected with types 16 & 18 would have. Because the vaccine itself is a low dose infection, giving it to someone already carrying those strains may in fact increase their likelihood of contracting cancer.
• There was no study of the effect of Gardasil on birth defects. Five of the subjects given Gardasil around the time of conception had babies with birth defects. None of the women in the control group had babies with birth defects during the study period.
• It is not known if Gardasil will pass into breast milk and what effect that will have.
• It is not known if Gardasil effects genes and will thereby effect future generations.
• It is not known if Gardasil effects fertility.
• Merck says Gardasil should not be given to pregnant women.
• Gardasil uses aluminum and polysorbate. These have been known to cause cancer in lab animals and to alter immune responses. Aluminum is associated with increased risk of Alzheimer.
• Merck was only able to estimate the effectiveness of Gardasil for 5 years. There is no definitive guideline for it’s effectiveness, tho it doesn’t appear to be once for life.

There are two rather damning points to grasp here:

1. As stated above, Merck never proved Gardasil prevented cancer, only that it decreased abnormal PAP smears.

2. No one has ever proven HPV causes cancer. Let me explain.
In the Merck study the decrease in total pre-cancerous PAP smears was less than statistically predicted given that Gardasil prevents two HPV strains.
In other words, since Gardasil prevents pre-cancerous PAPs due to types 16 & 18 HPVs, then the total number of pre-cancerous PAPs should decrease by a commensurate percentage. Simple enough. It didn’t.
This led an FDA scientist to question the theory that HPV CAUSES cervical cancer. It’s instead possible that HPV is an “opportunistic infection” that thrives in the presence of cancer cells. It’s a chicken and egg sort of thing.
Remember, no one has ever proven HPV is the cause of cancer. That assumption was made because HPV is often (approximately 70% of the time) – but not always - present with cervical cancer. But again, just because they’re frequent companions, doesn’t prove one leads to the other.

I know we’re talking about the big scary C word – cancer. Merck is fomenting and harnessing that fear and extraordinarily misrepresenting the situation and the impact of their product. And politicians are guzzling down the kool-aid like cool water in the middle of the desert in July. Irresponsible to put it ever so lightly.

- Additionally, you’re not going to contract HPV sitting next to someone infected. It’s passed through sexual contact.
- Having HPV does not guarantee cervical cancer… not even close. It’s CHRONIC infection that’s ASSOCIATED with cervical cancer. A vast majority of people receive the virus and CLEAR it, never knowing.
- Condoms prevent 70% of ALL (not just 2 strains) of HPVs from spreading.
- PAP smears detect pre-cancer. Cervical cancer is very treatable.
Merck is blustering about saving lives. And while every life is precious, there isn’t much support for Gardasil. In my own math I could only come up with 87 lives a year at best IF every woman had received the vaccine every 5 years starting at the age of 9. Keep in mind, those 87 lives could have been saved with other measures (simpler and lest costly) as well.
In the reference stated below, the author figures it would be 1-2 deaths/year of women between 9-26 which is the age range Gardasil is approved for.
- Billions for Gardasil (plus the cost of it’s known and unknown side effects) or not nearly as much for condoms and regular PAP smears… and no side effects.

The Maryland legislature beat the drum. Maryland citizens rose up in protest and quaffed them. I don’t really know why so many legislatures are rushing to play Doctor with other people’s health. Or, in reality rushing to sell Gardasil for Merck. I can only advise you to make an informed choice that’s right for you. And to speak loudly when politicians try to usurp your choice.

Reference:
Telling the truth about the new vaccine Gardasil by Dr. Moira Terese Dolan
[1] medicalaccountability.net/essay_gardasil.html