Some clarifications on support of Gardasil

[trotsky]

I don't pretend to speak for anyone but myself, but since some of the same mischaracterizations and misrepresentations keep appearing here, I thought a post explaining my personal stance might help.

1) Most importantly, I do not work for any pharmaceutical company. I do not sit on the board of any pharmaceutical company. I do not stand to gain financially from any pharmaceutical company's sales. Oh I suppose there are some kind of pharmaceutical stocks tucked away in one of the funds in my 401(k) but I have no idea and don't view that as relevant anyway. I am not motivated by money in this debate WHATSOEVER.

2) I do not trust any pharmaceutical company implicitly. (I don't know of anyone who does.) I do not believe they always have their patients' best interests at heart. Like ANY company (including supplement makers or homeopathic dealers), their primary motivation is PROFIT. However, at least in the context of pharmaceuticals, their products actually have to undergo controlled testing to show that they work.

3) I do not believe that Gardasil is 100% safe. I don't believe ANY vaccine is 100% safe. No one does! There are risks associated with ANY treatment, whether it be a vaccine, drugs, supplements, or even homeopathic water. However, the risks of Gardasil and other vaccines are far, far smaller than the risks presented by HPV infection or other diseases. Basic statistics bear this out.

4) I do not believe that Merck's actions w.r.t. the release and marketing of Gardasil were all that admirable. However, those actions are an entirely different issue than whether the vaccine is effective.

5) Just like surely Gardasil's opponents themselves believe, my primary motivation is women's health. But I view Gardasil as an important breakthrough in women's sexual and general health. I have a 7 year old daughter and will be getting her this vaccine as soon as she is eligible.

6) I lost one friend to cervical cancer, and a current friend is a cervical cancer survivor who DID get regular paps. I do not believe that screening alone is adequate to fight this disease.

7) I am eagerly looking forward to when this vaccine becomes available to boys. I also have a son, and would like to help make sure he reduces the risk of spreading HPV to his future partners. And considering HPV is linked to genital warts and penile cancer, he might just get some health benefits too.

8) I would like to see stats used appropriately. Using raw VAERS data to come to conclusions is inappropriate and wrong.

9) And finally, this nonsense of "but maw, they did it first" is getting nowhere. Like ANY charged debate on DU, emotions are high on both sides.

Please, for all future topics in the Health forum, consider the points above.