Your 2¢

1. Brian the Sailor Said,

   Sounds like it might not be a bad idea, although I didn’t know until your last post on the subject that it has to be redone…what was it, every 5 years?
   Anyway, on gardasil, I’m firmly pro-choice.

2. Chavonn Said,

   I’ve been doing research on the vaccine for a persuasive paper at school. You can get the virus not only from sexual intercourse, but smoking and taking the pill can cause it too. Also, you can have the cancer and not even know it because the symptoms do not always show up or can be detected. Also, you can choose to opt out from getting you or your daughter getting the vaccine. simply by sending an email and stating your answer. it’s all on gov. perry’s site. but if anyone has any more info, or would like to share opinions, you can send me an email. i need more research and could use some quotes from others on this topic. thanks!

3. caltechgirl Said,

   sorry no, kid. Smoking and/or taking the Pill DO NOT IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM cause you to get a VIRUS. You get a virus by being exposed to it. In this case by skin on skin contact. Smoking or the pill may make you MORE SUSCEPTIBLE to contracting viruses in general.

   I think what you MEAN to say is that cervical cancer may be caused by smoking or taking the Pill, but that’s not entirely clear from the current research. In fact, most studies suggest that taking the Pill actually REDUCES your chance of cervical cancer. Probably because you have to get an annual exam, which is how most cancers are caught at the pre-cancerous stage.

4. melissa craven Said,

   i have a 19 year od daughter and i was wondering what the dangers of guardasil and should i allow her to have the shots. my mom and sister both had cercival cancer.

5. Lindsay Said,

   The reason they are “mandating” it is simly because of government red tape. Many girls’ families would not be able to afford the vaccine, or would care enough to get them to the doctor to get it. If it is mandated by the state then it will become a routine part of medical care, much like all the other routine vaccinations children receive in infancy (MMR, DTaP, etc.). There is always an opt-out clause when it comes to vaccines (and most medical care) for people who are opposed to the vaccine for whatever reason. As Chavonn states, its relatively easy to opt-out. In most states it’s simly signing an informed consent type form.

   Contrary to referenced statements, they don’t yet know how long the vaccine will be effective. It might be 5 years it might be 55 years. The vaccine is new so they don’t have the longevity data on the vaccine yet. Also the vaccine has been 100% effective in preventing strains 16 & 18 of the virus (the cancer causing strains) and 98% effective in strains 6 & 11 (the genital warts causing strains). These outstanding numbers are the reasons that the vaccine is being pushed so hard. They’ve never seen clinical research data this compelling before so they are very confident that this vaccine is producing good results.

   You can have your doubts but I for one would rather side on taking the chance AGAINST cervical cancer (which has a very high fatality rate).

6. wRitErsbLock Said,

   Lidsay, thanks for your input.

   I personally believe Merck is pushing their vaccine so hard because it is one of the most expensive vaccines out there. A cash cow for Merck.

   As I’ve stated, this vaccine is just too new to be mandating it. And the side effects that are not being widely reported (Reports of seizures, blindness, episodes of passing out, tremors, memory problems, vision loss-are coming in at an alarming rate.) are super scary. Until this drug has been around for a longer period of time, I do not want the government forcing any woman or little girl to poison their bodies.

   In a few more years, after this drug has been around longer and we are more aware of its possible long-term effects (both good and bad), this should not be mandated.

   How often are drugs approved only to be banned a year or two later? Too often for me to volunteer to be their test subject or for my step-daughter to be their step subject.

   Besides, as a responsible person who goes for annual paps and gynecological exams, I have faith that my doctor would catch anything funky going on in my body.

   The biggest problem I have with Gardasil is that it misleads everyone into believing it is a cure for ALL types of cervical cancer. It is not.

7. Lindsay Said,

   Definitely good thoughts. I haven’t heard of any cases of the side effects you mention, but definitely it’s something to watch out for. I know it hasn’t been around for a long time, but the data I saw was convincing enough to take the risks personally. As with any medicine, we can’t be 100% sure how each person will react. There’s always a bit of faith involved when it comes to the “practice” of medicine.

   There is always concern when pharm. companies get in to the picture because obviously their bottom line is their biggest driver. It will be interesting to see what happens with the Glaxo vaccine comes out as well. Interestingly, Glaxo is targeting the exact same four strains of HPV. Strain 16 is the biggie, which is one reason they are targeting it. About 56% of the cervical cancer cases have been linked to it, so it makes sense that they would want to get the major culprit. From the data I saw, there are still about 6 or 7 other strains that the vaccine doesn’t cover, but each of them alone only attribute 2-3%. Obviously, the biggest bang for the buck are going to be for the two biggies.

   I had some abnormal paps and that was scary enough. Even if you catch cervical cancer early it can be a scary and laborious process. And then again, there’s no guarentee that it won’t spread more quickly than you can get rid of it. I’ll take my chances of doing the best prevention I can. My doctor did a HPV test when I had my abnormal pap and it turns out my HPV test was negative. SO I’m getting the first shot tomorrow (I turn 27 in three weeks so I am zooming to get in now that my insurance covers it!) so I’ll let you know how it goes! I’ll ask my doc how her patients have faired so far.

   Always great to have stimulating debate! Thanks for sending me the link back!

8. wRitErsbLock Said,

   Lindsay, good luck. I hope it is everything you hope it is. Do let me know how it goes.

   I might be more inclined to want the vaccine if I were not married (presumably a monogamous relationship). I do believe curing HPV is a very good thing. I’m just so apprehensive about something so new.

9. Lindsay Said,

   Woo hoo! I got my shot this morning, no major problems! I came in and the nurse practitioner asked if I had any questions (I’d already explained in my appointment call that I was a health educator) and I said nope. She went and got the shot, injected it and I was done. I do have to say that it is slightly more painful than a “standard” shot (whatever that is!) but definitely not as painful as a tetnus shot. After the shot I asked how most patients have been fairing and she said fine, most people just said it felt like a big shot (lots of vaccine) but it’s actually less than 1 cc. Now, this is a OB-GYN office and I think they serve probably a slightly older population than maybe a typical pediatrician’s office that would serve the mainly 11-12 year old range so that might have something to do with less severe reactions. I think young adults are more used to shots and you’ll see less of the fainting and dizzy symptoms than a kid who might be scared of shots anyway.

   On another note, last night I was thinking about your comment on mandates and felt like I should say that I am only in support of the mandate because I know it will help increase access for the vaccine. In general I am very Libertarian-leaning and do not support mandates at all. I am not in favor of the government telling me what to do. The reason I can support the vaccine mandates is because they allow the opt-out clause and it’s fairly easy to get. If there wasn’t an opt-out clause or it was a difficult process I’d be more inclined to be against it. Until we fix our healthcare system to allow more universal access (whatever that may be) if a “mandate” will help disadvantaged girls get a potentially live-saving vaccine, I’ll be for it.

   On one last, completely unrelated note, glad I found your blog! I am a blog-addict and it’s always nice to stumble on one that sparks intelligent conversation on various issues. Provides a nice break at work!!!

10. Roxie Said,

    Hi: Just wanted to add my 2cents about gardasil- my daughter had taken two of the three vaccinces at the urging of our family doctor- she was told is could be spread through casual contact, as in coughing, sneezing, cuts and open sores on carriers in college labs.. so my daughter decided to take the vaccine. She has had a seizure, fainting spells, swelling in her face, neck and lymph nodes, burning prickles in her legs and scalp to the point where you couldn’t even touch her hair. Her legs began to give out unexpectedly, then came the loss of use. She was sent to Cleveland Clinic where we were told she had too much stress in her life!! Since every one of these symptoms of which I only name a few, came on several days after the injections, we made no connection to Gardasil until after returning from the Clinic. It was through a friend who showed us an article about Gardasil side affects that we realized what was going on. But not until after my daughter decided she felt too bad to take the third dose. Now she suffers from pressure in her head, behind her eyes - another side affect that has been on-going.. and her legs hurt off and on like they are being sledge hammered. Some days she can hardly get around. Wish we had been told that there were other side affects to gardasil other than grand mal seizures and site injection inflamation!

11. Roxie Said,

    Hi: Just wanted to add my 2cents about gardasil- my daughter had taken two of the three vaccines at the urging of our family doctor- she was told it could be spread through casual contact, as in coughing, sneezing, cuts and open wounds in carriers in college labs.. so my daughter decided to take the vaccine. She has had a seizure, fainting spells, swelling in her face, neck and lymph nodes, burning prickles in her legs and scalp to the point where you couldn’t even touch her hair. Her legs began to give out unexpectedly, then came the loss of use. She was sent to Cleveland Clinic where we were told she had too much stress in her life!! Since every one of these symptoms of which I only name a few, came on several days after the injections, we made no connection to Gardasil until after returning from the Clinic. It was through a friend who showed us an article about Gardasil side affects that we realized what was going on. But not until after my daughter decided she felt too bad to take the third dose. Now she suffers from pressure in her head, behind her eyes - another side affect that has been on-going.. and her legs hurt off and on like they are being sledge hammered. Some days she can hardly get around. Wish we had been told that there were other side affects to gardasil other than grand mal seizures and site injection inflamation!

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