Life saving treatment or giant experiment?
BMJ 2007; 334 doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.39164.510127.AD (Published 05 April 2007) Cite this as: BMJ 2007;334:721All rapid responses
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Can anybody tell me the incidence of Cervical cancer? Has it been
proven beyond reasonable doubt that HPV is the only cause of Cervical
cancer and thet the vaccine will completely prevent the occurrence of this
condition? 3 cases of Guillain Barre in the trial is something not to be
taken lightly. Think about the girl who got this life threatening condition
following vaccination for prevention of a condition which she would not
probably have got it in her lifetime,if she didn't have the vaccination! We
do know that transverse myelitis was a complication of one of the previous
anti-Rabies vaccination.Do we really know the other longterm ill effects
that may occur of this vaccination? Some of them may be autoimmune
diseases! Who knows?
Thanks
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests
In her commentary, Rebecca Coombes reports that the 3 injections of
the HPV vaccine are “about $360 a shot.”¹ Dr. Lynk is correct in his
clarification that the cost of the HPV vaccine is actually $120 per shot²
for a total price of $360 for the entire 3 dose immunization.
Nevertheless, this is still an extremely expensive price tag. In
comparison, the cost of the Hepatitis B vaccination (also a 3 injection
treatment) is around $50 per shot² for a total cost of less than half the
cost of the HPV vaccine. Such a discrepancy may add to the concerns that
profit motives may be underlying the promotion of the vaccine. My main
concern, however, is that the vaccine’s hefty price tag may ultimately
hinder its potential public health benefit by limiting access to the HPV
vaccine amongst socioeconomically disadvantaged females. -Sarah Chaudhary
1.Coombes R. Life saving treatment or giant experiment? BMJ 2007;
334: 721-723
2.Center for Disease Control Vaccines Price List, available online at
http://www.cdc.gov/
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests
Most reasonable people will welcome the prospect of a safe and
effective HPV vaccine that prevents cervical cancer. Merck has spent a lot
of marketing money to convince health ministries and the public that their
new vaccine Gardisil will do the job. Gardasil contains two strains of
human papillomavirus: types 16 and 18, that are responsible for 70% of all
cervical cancers, and the three injections together cost about $360 US
(£185).
In Canada, most provincial health ministries are struggling to manage
budgets that are growing at an unsustainable annual rate of 5-9%. Is this
vaccine a good public health investment? Will it truly lower the incidence
of cervical cancer in the near and distant future? Would scarce healthcare
resources be better spent improving the (often dismal) percentage of women
who receive regular Pap testing? Will the other 30% of HPV oncoviruses not
covered in the current vaccine quickly (the operative STD adjective) fill
the onco-ecological niche and render the current vaccine obsolete?
Speaking as a pediatrician who believes vaccines are one of
medicine's most cost-effective interventions, I am having trouble with the
HPV vaccine. Where does the hype end and the truth begin?
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests
Introduction of HumanPappiloma Vaccine is to be welcomed.
The concerns expressed in some quarters that the introduction of this
vaccine may encourage more sexual activity amongst the teenagers is simply
ludicrous, in my view. However, I agree with the concerns expressed
regarding substantial costs involved and this would mean that the vast
majority of world's vulnerable population will be denied the benefits of
the vaccine. These are the areas where screening is non existent for the
most part.
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests
Re: Madness
Dr Basu gave reasoned warning two years ago on the descent into
madness by HPV vaccine-obsessed health professionals.
Children in the US and UK are reaping what was sown for them, in
their many thousands - death and deblity from many diverse disorders;
subsequently Mercks Gardasil is attracting many lawsuits and Cervarix,
GSKs' product, is beginning to attract its share.
I wonder if Rebecca Coombes has any update on offer?
The usual "somatisation" and "coincidence" excuses have begun to
appear from those who were expected to assure the safety and effectiveness
of the vaccines, not shame of course.
Updates provided from experience of the vaccinated at 2009 are below.
References
http://www.newsinferno.com/archives/1887
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=68454
http://www.ennislaw.com/gardasil_news_03262009.html
http://www.vaccineriskawareness.com/Gardasil-and-Cervarix-The-
Cervical-Cancer-Vaccines
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/101956
http://www.cafemom.com/journals/read/1069927/Jenny_Is_Dying_From_Complic...
http://www.gardasil-talk.com/?page_id=2
http://www.pacificlawcenter.com/html/gardasil.html
http://www.jabs.org.uk/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=3357&whichpage=5
Competing interests:
None declared
Competing interests: No competing interests