A parent's right to decide

[mhatrw]

http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/commentary/wb/wb/xp-104782

...

If the history of medicine in the last century teaches us anything, it is that women's health remains a dimly understood topic. I have grown, I think, justifiably cautious when hearing that a new medicine promises to transform women's sexual and reproductive lives. I thank God that I have the perfect right to reflect on the facts, consult my personal values and make my own decisions about my body. I want my daughter and granddaughters to enjoy that same right. Truth is, both the incidence and mortality rates of cervical cancer have fallen approximately 50 percent in the last 30 years. Safer sexual practices and routine Pap tests, which can be largely credited for this decrease, will remain our most important weapons. That's because the new vaccine is not universally effective against the full spectrum of agents that produce cancer. ...

Mind you, these were my objections before we learned that the current race to vaccinate is being bankrolled by the makers of Gardasil. The Associated Press reported recently that Merck & Co. has donated millions of dollars to state candidates and political action committees. At present, 18 states are debating the merits of having all girls vaccinated before the sixth grade. In Virginia, there are two bills moving through the General Assembly, and Gov. Tim Kaine has already expressed his support.

HPV, in addition to producing genital warts, has been implicated in penile cancer. If state-mandated vaccination is about protecting the public health and not about rushing Merck's new product to the gate before competitor GlaxoSmithKline has its own vaccine on the market, why not commit our resources to ensuring that the product be further tested and approved for both genders?

Merck & Co. can hardly afford another failure like that of its pain reliever Vioxx; and neither, I would argue, can we. To date, there have been more than 10,000 cases and 190 class actions filed against the company over issues ranging from data manipulation to the adequacy of its warnings about adverse cardiovascular events associated with the drug. And so, dear daughter, here is my response: Everyone does not wear pajama bottoms to school, and Everyone is not getting in line for Gardasil. Everyone must choose for herself.

[Quakerfriend]

1. THANK YOU, for a bit of reason.

I got my kids off the push to vaccinate bandwagon years ago when Merck pushed the Chix Pox vaccine on everyone. From a medical standpoint, a wholly unnecessary vaccine and one that may in fact cause a child harm down the road.

Merck made $7 mil. per class of kids entering kindergarten in the state of OH with the CHix Pox vaccine.

[TallahasseeGrannie]

2. This is a take on the situation that

I have not considered. Thanks for bringing it up.

[terip64]

3. kick for your right to decide. n/t

[mzmolly]

4. Kickin it! And a recommendation to boot.

:toast:

I applaud your vigorous stance for choice mhatrw! :applause:

The Associated Press reported recently that Merck & Co. has donated millions of dollars to state candidates and political action committees. At present, 18 states are debating the merits of having all girls vaccinated before the sixth grade. In Virginia, there are two bills moving through the General Assembly, and Gov. Tim Kaine has already expressed his support.

HPV, in addition to producing genital warts, has been implicated in penile cancer. If state-mandated vaccination is about protecting the public health and not about rushing Merck's new product to the gate before competitor GlaxoSmithKline has its own vaccine on the market, why not commit our resources to ensuring that the product be further tested and approved for both genders?

Merck & Co. can hardly afford another failure like that of its pain reliever Vioxx; and neither, I would argue, can we. To date, there have been more than 10,000 cases and 190 class actions filed against the company over issues ranging from data manipulation to the adequacy of its warnings about adverse cardiovascular events associated with the drug.

Anyone who says that Vioxx is not related to Gardasil should consider the letters in bold above. This company has a history of MANIPULATING DATA and people here are defending Merck as though they're on the payroll along with politicians.

[antigop]

5. Thanks, mhatrw! n/t