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Line 34: − In addition to the above referenced injuries and deaths, many girls who receive the HPV vaccine say that it is the most painful of all injections they get, and that the vaccine itself burns, unlike the "other shots [that] tend to hurt only at the moment of the needle stick, and not after the vaccine plunges in." Many girls have been known to pass out from the pain.<ref>MSNBC: Some girls fainting after receiving HPV vaccine Gardasil gaining reputation as most painful of childhood shots, experts say [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22492557/]</ref> In fact, the most common side effect is brief soreness at the injection site. <ref>CDC: Reports of Adverse Events Following Gardasil® Vaccination [http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/vaers/gardasil.htm]</ref>
More organization.
There have been 7,802 adverse reactions to the HPV vaccine, including fifteen deaths, reported to the CDC since the FDA approval in June 2006. Of the fifteen deaths, ten were confirmed; the CDC says none of these were linked to the vaccine. <ref> CNN.com: Should parents worry about HPV vaccine?, July 7, 2008 [http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/07/07/cervical.cancer.vaccine/index.html]</ref> <ref>CDC: Reports of Adverse Events Following Gardasil® Vaccination [http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/vaers/gardasil.htm]</ref>
There have been 7,802 adverse reactions to the HPV vaccine, including fifteen deaths, reported to the CDC since the FDA approval in June 2006. Of the fifteen deaths, ten were confirmed; the CDC says none of these were linked to the vaccine. <ref> CNN.com: Should parents worry about HPV vaccine?, July 7, 2008 [http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/conditions/07/07/cervical.cancer.vaccine/index.html]</ref> <ref>CDC: Reports of Adverse Events Following Gardasil® Vaccination [http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/vaers/gardasil.htm]</ref>
In addition to the above referenced injuries and deaths, many girls who receive the HPV vaccine say that it is the most painful of all injections they get, and that the vaccine itself burns, unlike the "other shots [that] tend to hurt only at the moment of the needle stick, and not after the vaccine plunges in." Many girls have been known to pass out from the pain.<ref>MSNBC: Some girls fainting after receiving HPV vaccine Gardasil gaining reputation as most painful of childhood shots, experts say [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22492557/]</ref> In fact, the most common side effect is brief soreness at the injection site. <ref>CDC: Reports of Adverse Events Following Gardasil® Vaccination [http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/vaers/gardasil.htm]</ref>
The FDA approved this HPV vaccine without reviewing any epidemiological studies, and after monitoring for only a brief period elevated [[antibody]] levels in recipients of the vaccine.<ref> http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5602a1.htm</ref> No tests were done, for example, to see if the vaccine causes cancer or birth defects in rats, though such tests would be easy for the FDA to require, if it weren't for the possibility that it might cause disapproval of the vaccine.<ref>http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/g/gardasil/gardasil_pi.pdf</ref>
The FDA approved this HPV vaccine without reviewing any epidemiological studies, and after monitoring for only a brief period elevated [[antibody]] levels in recipients of the vaccine.<ref> http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5602a1.htm</ref> No tests were done, for example, to see if the vaccine causes cancer or birth defects in rats, though such tests would be easy for the FDA to require, if it weren't for the possibility that it might cause disapproval of the vaccine.<ref>http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/g/gardasil/gardasil_pi.pdf</ref>
The long-term consequences of the HPV vaccine are not known. Children in the 9-year-old age group have been monitored for only 18 months, and there have been no studies of possible longer-term risks of the vaccine, such as infertility or cancer.
The long-term consequences of the HPV vaccine are not known. Children in the 9-year-old age group have been monitored for only 18 months, and there have been no studies of possible longer-term risks of the vaccine, such as infertility or cancer.
==Effectiveness==
The HPV vaccine is being promoted as protection against cervical cancer, but Merck itself does not ensure protection in its package insert.<ref>http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/g/gardasil/gardasil_pi.pdf</ref> Rather, this claim is based on research showing that 70% of cervical cancer cases also have prevalence of these four strains of HPV, but correlation is not necessarily causation.<ref>http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/HPV</ref> Cervical cancer has already been quickly declining in the United States ''without'' the vaccine.
The HPV vaccine is being promoted as protection against cervical cancer, but Merck itself does not ensure protection in its package insert.<ref>http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/g/gardasil/gardasil_pi.pdf</ref> Rather, this claim is based on research showing that 70% of cervical cancer cases also have prevalence of these four strains of HPV, but correlation is not necessarily causation.<ref>http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Risk/HPV</ref> Cervical cancer has already been quickly declining in the United States ''without'' the vaccine.
Routine pap smears are an inexpensive and easy way to detect cervical cancer early so that it can be treated.<ref>MayoClinic.com: Pap smear: Screening test for cervical cancer: Understand the importance of the Pap smear, including how it's done, what it means when it's abnormal and why it needs to be part of your regular health checkups. [http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pap-smear/HQ01177]</ref>
Routine pap smears are an inexpensive and easy way to detect cervical cancer early so that it can be treated.<ref>MayoClinic.com: Pap smear: Screening test for cervical cancer: Understand the importance of the Pap smear, including how it's done, what it means when it's abnormal and why it needs to be part of your regular health checkups. [http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/pap-smear/HQ01177]</ref>
==Mandatory Vaccination==
The [[Association of American Physicians and Surgeons]], the Texas Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics have not supported making this vaccine mandatory.
The [[Association of American Physicians and Surgeons]], the Texas Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics have not supported making this vaccine mandatory.
Dr. Jon Abramson, a member of the [[CDC]]'s advisory committee on immunization practices, said to the Washington Times that "I told Merck my personal opinion that it shouldn't be mandated. And they heard it from other committee members."<ref>http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=21151</ref>
Dr. Jon Abramson, a member of the [[CDC]]'s advisory committee on immunization practices, said to the Washington Times that "I told Merck my personal opinion that it shouldn't be mandated. And they heard it from other committee members."<ref>http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=21151</ref>
Parents can best decide whether to give this unproven vaccine to their own children, most of whom are never likely to benefit from it.
Parents can best decide whether to give this unproven vaccine to their own children, most of whom are never likely to benefit from it.