We all know that the Tribune’s bias is certainly not in the Pro-Life direction. However, they did actually print an article on May 10th entitled “Study questions HPV shot.” This article covered a report from the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) that questions the effectiveness and justification for wide distribution of Gardasil, at least based on the testing results so far. The report pointed out that results from the human trials “reduced the incidence of cancer precursors by only 17 percent overall.”

The article continued, “Part of the reason was that many of the teenage girls and young women in the three-year study already had been exposed to the virus, according to the report in the New England Journal of Medicine. But the data also hinted that blocking the targeted strains may have opened an ecological niche that allows the flourishing of HPV strains previously considered to be minor players, partially offsetting the vaccine’s protection.”

Based on such results, an accompanying NEJM editorial said “young women and their parents should take ‘a cautious approach’ to vaccination.” In the current social climate where the push is on by Merck and the medical profession for widespread use of Gardasil for girls as young as 11 years old, the Tribune can certainly be commended for carrying this article.

Given these concerns about effectiveness, the importance of considering the risks of getting the Gardasil vaccine take on more prominence. As of May 11, 2007, 1,637 adverse vaccination reactions had been reported to the FDA via the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), included 371 serious reactions.

Three deaths were related to the vaccine. One physician’s assistant reported that a female patient “died of a blood clot three hours after getting the Gardasil vaccine.” Two other reports, on girls 12 and 19, reported deaths relating to heart problems and/or blood clotting. Of 42 women who received the vaccine while pregnant, 18 experienced side effects ranging from spontaneous abortion to fetal abnormities.

Side effects published by Merck & Co. warn the public about potential pain, fever, nausea, dizziness and itching after receiving the vaccine. While 77% of the adverse reactions reported are typical side effects to vaccinations, other more serious side effects reported include paralysis, Bells Palsy, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, and seizures.

And given those risks, also recognize that Gardasil is a vaccination against a sexually transmitted disease that does nothing to prevent HPV strains causing 30% of cervical cancers. In a recent study of women with HPV, only 3.4% carried a strain that would have been prevented by this vaccine. Long term complications of the vaccine or the length of protection are unknown.

Parents should be cautious before allowing their daughters to receive this yet unproven vaccine for a sexually transmitted disease. Be aware that doctors are pushing to vaccinate girls 11 years old and up with Gardasil when they receive their school physicals. For more information call 312-422-9300.

Bill Beckman