HPV vaccine (Gardasil) expert questions vaccination for young girls

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HPV vaccine (Gardasil) expert questions vaccination for young girls

Dr. Diane Harper, a friend of mine, is one of the lead researchers for the HPV vaccine (Gardasil), and now “is speaking out about its risks, benefits, and aggressive marketing.” 
On their website, CBS News reports that according to Dr. Harper, who helped design and carry out safety and effectiveness studies for the drug, “young girls and their parents should receive more complete warnings before receiving vaccine to prevent cervical cancer.”
Dr. Harper says that “data available for Gardasil shows that it lasts five years; there is no data showing that it remains effective beyond five years.”
The proclamation “raises questions about the CDC’s recommendation that the series of shots be given to girls as young as 11-years old.”
“If we vaccinate 11 year olds and the protection doesn’t last … we’ve put them at harm from side effects, small but real, for no benefit,” says Dr. Harper.
You can read my previous posts about Gardasil:

Nevertheless, “Merck and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention maintain Gardasil is safe and effective, and that adequate warnings are provided, cautioning about soreness at the injection site and risk of fainting after vaccination.”
In my practice, I’m willing to give the vaccine to young women whose parents have been informed of the potential risks and benefits, and the actual costs. However, after informed consent, most don’t take it.

0 Comments

  1. Lynn Sue says:

    None of the links for HPV vaccine worked.

  2. Dr. Walt says:

    Lynn Sue, the blog has changed the way it categorizes the links. They should be fixed now. Thanks.

  3. Karrie says:

    I am curious what you make of this then
    http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2009/oct/10/ben-goldacre-cervical-cancer-jab
    I am just trying to get to the bottom of this information jungle centered around Dr Harper. This is a very recent interview where she seems to discount a lot of what you claim here.

    • Dr. Walt says:

      Hi Karrie. Thanks for the note and the link to the article. However, I don’t see any discrepancy between the CBS report I posted, and upon which I commented, and the article you are citing. If there is any, let me know.

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