Ever since the FDA approved the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in 2006, its introduction has been embroiled in a medical, social, cultural, and political controversy. This controversy has once again been rekindled in the recent Republican primary debates between Texas governor Rick Perry and Congresswoman Michele Bachmann from Minnesota, in which Bachmann emphatically stated that Merck's HPV vaccine, Gardasil, causes mental retardation.
As a physician, parent, and author of the award-winning book The HPV Vaccine Controversy: Sex, Cancer, God and Politics (Praeger, 2008), I feel compelled to comment on this issue.
A report presented by four different sources to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), an independent panel of experts that advises …show more content…
Based upon these current findings, the FDA strongly recommends vaccinating the target population: nine- to twenty-six-year-old females and males. The CDC will continue to be vigilant and monitor safety data on an ongoing basis. Nevertheless, it is helpful to remind ourselves that regardless of how well studies are conducted, gray zones of risk exist. The history of medicine has shown us that such unfortunate events do occur for unknown reasons, and research is underway to study if genetics and environmental factors have a role to play in such rare and serious events.
One should always balance the greater good with these potentially minimal risks when evaluating the advantages offered by new and emerging medicines. Scaremongering for personal political gain does not bode well for the education and welfare of the public. In the case of the HPV vaccine, it would be a shame if negative attention created by a few rare effects hampers the efforts to reach millions of women and men who risk losing their lives to HPV-related diseases, including cancers and particularly cervical cancer, both in our country and around the
As a physician, parent, and author of the award-winning book The HPV Vaccine Controversy: Sex, Cancer, God and Politics (Praeger, 2008), I feel compelled to comment on this issue.
A report presented by four different sources to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), an independent panel of experts that advises …show more content…
Based upon these current findings, the FDA strongly recommends vaccinating the target population: nine- to twenty-six-year-old females and males. The CDC will continue to be vigilant and monitor safety data on an ongoing basis. Nevertheless, it is helpful to remind ourselves that regardless of how well studies are conducted, gray zones of risk exist. The history of medicine has shown us that such unfortunate events do occur for unknown reasons, and research is underway to study if genetics and environmental factors have a role to play in such rare and serious events.
One should always balance the greater good with these potentially minimal risks when evaluating the advantages offered by new and emerging medicines. Scaremongering for personal political gain does not bode well for the education and welfare of the public. In the case of the HPV vaccine, it would be a shame if negative attention created by a few rare effects hampers the efforts to reach millions of women and men who risk losing their lives to HPV-related diseases, including cancers and particularly cervical cancer, both in our country and around the