Gardasil?

[Disneygirl26]

I find it interesting that this vaccine is seemingly being compared to the vaccine for Chicken Pox or the flu shot. HPV causes cervical cancer. We are not talking about a few missed days from school -- this infection can cause a terminal disease.

Statistically, at least 50% of the population has HPV (according the the CDC). I am a high school teacher and I know what kids are doing out there. Heck, I know what I was doing at their age. And I wish I had the choice to take such a shot back then.

Speaking of statistics, roughly 46,000 people die in car accidents per year (according to national automobile accident statistics), while about 23,000 people will be diagnosed with HPV-related cancer this year. I bet you make your daughters wear seat belts, right?

I sincerely hope none of your daughters end up with cervical cancer. And if they do, how would you ever look them in the eyes and tell them that you refused to get them the vaccine to prevent it?

I totally agree, my aunt died at the age of 45 of cervical cancer, my DD16 has gotten her shots she had no side affects, I don't believe anything is 100% safe I think you should talk to your doctor and weigh your options and not make judgements base on something you heard on the news.

 

[mrsklamc]

Pros and cons of the vaccine aside, it's none of the SCHOOL'S business.

It's sad for someone to die from a stupid mistake they made as a kid, it's also sad for someone to die or have serious consequences from a vaccine that hadn't been tested properly..both sides are valid concerns. But all that aside, whether you've had this vaccine should have no bearing on whether or not you can attend school.

 

[crisi]

Pros and cons of the vaccine aside, it's none of the SCHOOL'S business.

Depends on what you see as the role of schools in society. Since shortly after the Civil War, American public schools have been used to disseminate information about public health and enact public health policy. Vaccination at school was common until recently. This is one of the reasons why the Polio vaccination project was so ridiculously effective - we could reach so many children in the schools to give them the vaccine. In the 1970s, I was still getting the shots themselves in school. Things we take for granted as part of the schools mandate - like school lunches - are really public health initiatives.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I finally got a human being on the phone at DD's school this morning. The response I got after talking with the nurse is that I don't have to get this for DD...although she stated they strongly encourage it. For now, its just too new for me to accept and DD won't be getting it at this time, although that may change in the future. I was told I don't have to even fill out any form about opting out since it is not required.

I appreciate all the opinions and advice. My sister and BIL are physicians, so I get the whole medical perspective on this already (with a little drug company influence added in I'm sure). I like to hear opinions from normal everyday people though, which I obviously got here. I'm happy to hear that those who opted for this for the DD"s haven't had any adverse effects, that is a relief and certainly plays a part in what I decide to do for DD in the future.

 

[RMulieri]

I finally got a human being on the phone at DD's school this morning. The response I got after talking with the nurse is that I don't have to get this for DD...although she stated they strongly encourage it. For now, its just too new for me to accept and DD won't be getting it at this time, although that may change in the future. I was told I don't have to even fill out any form about opting out since it is not required.

I appreciate all the opinions and advice. My sister and BIL are physicians, so I get the whole medical perspective on this already (with a little drug company influence added in I'm sure). I like to hear opinions from normal everyday people though, which I obviously got here. I'm happy to hear that those who opted for this for the DD"s haven't had any adverse effects, that is a relief and certainly plays a part in what I decide to do for DD in the future.

Glad it all worked out for you

 

[asktriplets]

http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/06/briefing/2006-4222B3.pdf

this is pretty long, but the basics (as i understand them) are this:

the big, "landmark" study used thousands of 16-23 year olds over a 3 year time period. there was then a smaller "bridging" study done (study 018 in the link above) to look at the safety of this vaccine on younger children. if you look at the study, it looks like there were 67 nine year olds, and 131 ten year olds, 165 eleven year olds , and 142 twelve year olds enrolled.

as far as i can find, there have been NO OTHER studies to prove safety and efficacy for kids under the age 16....if i understand this correctly, they used 67 (it bears repeating, in bold, 67 9 year olds, and called it safe for that age. THIS is why my daughters would not be vaccinated at this time were they old enough.

on the other hand, in my research, i have found that countries all over the world are adding this vaccine to their list of recommendations..it is NOT just the FDA that is pushing this (although i thought that at first...lots of iffy-looking Merck/govt. connections). it LOOKS like an incredible medical breakthough that will save lives.

am i ready NOW, though, to consider it an option for my daughters when they hit 9, 10, or 11 years old? NO WAY.

 

[baloo's girl]

OP, I'm glad you got your answers from the school.

So far this vax isn't manditory in MS. But the only waiver available here is medical-which is impossible to get. The health dept has to approve the medical waiver and they never do. Even a friend of mine could not get a medical waiver for her 2 children with autism (and they had bad reactions to a few vaxes). It sucks that I have basically no rights in this state to choose when and if my children get vaxes.

 

[Jenvenza]

I also do not believe the school has any right to tell you that you have to vaccinate your daughter. HPV is not an air-borne disease. That should be up to the parents whether they want to vaccinate their child or not.

 

[MommyBryn]

OP, I'm glad you got your answers from the school.

So far this vax isn't manditory in MS. But the only waiver available here is medical-which is impossible to get. The health dept has to approve the medical waiver and they never do. Even a friend of mine could not get a medical waiver for her 2 children with autism (and they had bad reactions to a few vaxes). It sucks that I have basically no rights in this state to choose when and if my children get vaxes.

Oh my gosh, your friend NEEDS to get out of vaxs!! I'm sorry that happened to her and her kids!! If her doc still insists on them, then she needs a new one!!

Every state has religious exemptions (ETA- correction, every state but MS and WV)- if someone really wants to get out of vaccinations you can use that one, and it is rarely, if ever, challenged. I'm assuming you mean you don't have a philosophical exemption...even so, I personally would never use one because they are easily (and often) challenged. I'm sure with the way our country is going we'll see that one disappear fairly soon, too.

Here's a website with exemption info:
http://www.909shot.com/state-site/state-exemptions.htm

Hope that helps!!

 

[perkinsrose]

Oh my gosh, your friend NEEDS to get out of vaxs!! I'm sorry that happened to her and her kids!! If her doc still insists on them, then she needs a new one!!

EVERY state has religious exemptions- if someone really wants to get out of vaccinations you can use that one, and it is rarely, if ever, challenged. I'm assuming you mean you don't have a philosophical exemption...even so, I personally would never use one because they are easily (and often) challenged. I'm sure with the way our country is going we'll see that one disappear fairly soon, too.

Here's a website with exemption info:
http://www.909shot.com/state-site/state-exemptions.htm

Hope that helps!!

According to this site--poster knows what she is talking about. MS HAS NO RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION--seems like another country or something?! How can they do that?

http://www.vaclib.org/exempt/mississippi.htm

http://www.vaclib.org/exemption.htm

 

[perkinsrose]

http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/06/briefing/2006-4222B3.pdf

this is pretty long, but the basics (as i understand them) are this:

the big, "landmark" study used thousands of 16-23 year olds over a 3 year time period. there was then a smaller "bridging" study done (study 018 in the link above) to look at the safety of this vaccine on younger children. if you look at the study, it looks like there were 67 nine year olds, and 131 ten year olds, 165 eleven year olds , and 142 twelve year olds enrolled.

as far as i can find, there have been NO OTHER studies to prove safety and efficacy for kids under the age 16....if i understand this correctly, they used 67 (it bears repeating, in bold, 67 9 year olds, and called it safe for that age. THIS is why my daughters would not be vaccinated at this time were they old enough.

on the other hand, in my research, i have found that countries all over the world are adding this vaccine to their list of recommendations..it is NOT just the FDA that is pushing this (although i thought that at first...lots of iffy-looking Merck/govt. connections). it LOOKS like an incredible medical breakthough that will save lives.

am i ready NOW, though, to consider it an option for my daughters when they hit 9, 10, or 11 years old? NO WAY.

Thanks for the research info.

I don't have blind faith in the FDA. Remember the allergy drug Seldane? I was on it for several years and it was on the market for about 15 years before it was eliminated because of its impact on the heart. Remember the big thing with Vioxx? Unsafe food processing practices....Spinach, tomoatoes... Just because something has been approved by the FDA doesn't mean problems won't be discovered later. I hope Gardasil is in fact very safe and its benefits seriously outweigh risks of side effects, BUT I'm very glad I have years to wait for further results & research before I have to make a decision as a parent--while I completely respect the rights of others to choose for themselves.

 

[RMulieri]

Anyone remember Thalidomide? Now we use it as Chemotherapy.

 

[MommyBryn]

According to this site--poster knows what she is talking about. MS HAS NO RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION--seems like another country or something?! How can they do that?

http://www.vaclib.org/exempt/mississippi.htm

http://www.vaclib.org/exemption.htm

Wow that's nuts. Where's freedom of religion there? I'm going to have to look into that because that's just insane. Maybe ask on Mothering.com about it because those women know SO MUCH about vaccinations and exemptions and all sorts of stuff.

That said, if the friend can find a doctor who isn't as set on vaccinations, I know many doctors around here who will write a medical exemption for children who've had reactions. I even had a naturopathic doctor offer to write us one because SHE believes vaccines are harmful and therefor believes children have a medical reason to avoid them. We didn't take it, because we use a "personal" religous exemption, but I thought that was interesting.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

Thanks for the research info.

I don't have blind faith in the FDA. Remember the allergy drug Seldane? I was on it for several years and it was on the market for about 15 years before it was eliminated because of its impact on the heart. Remember the big thing with Vioxx? Unsafe food processing practices....Spinach, tomoatoes... Just because something has been approved by the FDA doesn't mean problems won't be discovered later. I hope Gardasil is in fact very safe and its benefits seriously outweigh risks of side effects, BUT I'm very glad I have years to wait for further results & research before I have to make a decision as a parent--while I completely respect the rights of others to choose for themselves.

I used to trust the medical field and the FDA...until my diabetes medication was pulled from the market (Rezulin) for causing liver toxicity, which BTW was highly recommended by my trusted physician. I was on this stuff for years. The drug companies were solving one problem and causing another. Of course that's how they stay in business. Somebody's pockets are being lined $$ at the expense of our health and safety. I shudder when I see the commercials for lawsuits against drug companies directed at people who took certain medications and are now living with the damage. I guess in the end we all do the best we can to make an informed decision.

 

[MommyBryn]

Here is a group in Mississippi that helps parents with vaccinations and exemptions:

http://parents.meetup.com/465/?success=details2

 

[baloo's girl]

Wow that's nuts. Where's freedom of religion there? I'm going to have to look into that because that's just insane. Maybe ask on Mothering.com about it because those women know SO MUCH about vaccinations and exemptions and all sorts of stuff.

That said, if the friend can find a doctor who isn't as set on vaccinations, I know many doctors around here who will write a medical exemption for children who've had reactions. I even had a naturopathic doctor offer to write us one because SHE believes vaccines are harmful and therefor believes children have a medical reason to avoid them. We didn't take it, because we use a "personal" religous exemption, but I thought that was interesting.

Sorry to hijack the thread here

"Certificate of exemption from vaccination for medical reasons may be offered by a duly licensed physician and may be accepted by the local health officer when, in his opinion, such exemption will not cause undue risk to the community."


Yeah, my friend and I go to the same doc-who's very AP, anti-circ, homebirthing backup, etc. The doc wrote a letter BUT the health dept denied her. Apparently we have no rights in MS. This issue bothers me greatly-mainly because I have no choice-other than to homeschool (which isn't for my family). My 3 year old son recently qualified for speech therapy (for articulation). He's scheduled to go 1 hour a week at the elementary school. They would not admit him into the program until I had him caught up on the daycare/preschool immunization requirements, which is a more extensive list than the one required for regular elementary school admittance. I was so mad about this. Needless to say, this topic of schools mandating what vaxes must be given to children really hits a nerve with me this week.

 

[MommyBryn]

You've officially convinced me to NEVER move there. LOL

 

[RMulieri]

Interesting tid bit ...My Dh is a Pediatric/vaccine specialty Pharmacist.We were discussing gardasil and he informed me that it's safety is currently being evaluated by the FDA( nice huh? ) that they are apparently aware of issues with it ,and that because it's cost /benefit analysis is currently being conducted, that MERCK the company that makes it might not continue to make it( some other drug company will though).

 

[Inda]

...but because this is so new, I am very leery. From my web searches, I am reading some majorly disturbing information regarding side effects. I know that if I had to decide to get this for myself, I would not.

The way Gardasil has been introduced is typical of the way all vaccines have been introduced. They do a few safety trials, evaluate those trials under very limited parameters, release it onto an unsuspecting public, then remove it if it causes problems. It's a simple cost/benefit scenario; do they make more from vaccine sales than they would have to pay out in damage lawsuits/general bad publicity. If they're going to lose money/get bad publicity, they yank it off the market.

Make no mistake, big pharma is not in business to help humanity. They are in business to make money, which is fine, as long as we as consumers use their products with that in mind. It is a business, not a scientific endeavor. There's no way I'd ever give a daughter this vaccination, especially when it hasn't even been studied or recommended for the very young girls that are getting it. But then, we don't vax at all so that's where I'm coming from.

 

[kafitty]

i don't agree with required immunizations like this, but i REALLY didn't agree with all of the stuff i had to go through when i was diagnosed with HPV. i'm fine, but it was pretty embarrassing and traumatic. just something to think about...