Opposing Viewpoints Paper 17 July 2014 HPV Vaccine: Beneficial or Harmful? 2A. Social Issue Research In recent years, vaccines and drugs have been developed to prevent sexually transmitted diseases like genital warts, or human papillomavirus (HPV). There is currently one FDA and CDC-approved vaccine that is widely used in adolescents ages 11-12 called Gardasil (Merck). Gardasil has obtained worldwide publicity for being the only approved HPV vaccine, but also because it has potential to cause serious side effects and harm to the patient. According to Gardasil, the vaccine helps protect against 2 types of HPV that cause about 75% of cervical cancer cases, and 2 more types that cause about 90% of genital warts cases and in boys and young men ages 9 to 26, GARDASIL helps protect against approximately 90% of genital warts cases (Merck). Gardasil has been criticized since its FDA approval in 2006 for aggressive marketing and attempts to make HPV vaccinations mandatory by law, as well as causing severe issues like autoimmune complications and miscarriage. The Federal Drug Administration approved Gardasil vaccine in 2006 for use in females and males ages 9 to 26 for prevention against cervical cancer, genital warts, and anal cancer, among other associated illnesses (FDA). According to producer Mercolas website, 213 women suffered from severe complications such as paralysis, multiple sclerosis-like symptoms, spontaneous abortion, and degenerative muscular diseases (Mercola). Mercola and Merck have also been under scrutiny after a 2013 voluntary recall of 743,360 vials of Gardasil that were Lambert 2 possibly contaminated with glass particles (Fox News). The glass particles were small enough to slide through the needle and caused mild reactions like swelling, redness and itching of the injection site in some patients, but were not fatal. One parent, Deanna Spry, voiced her opinion on Foxs story online: This vaccine reportedly causes some girls to become infertile. No thanks, I'll pass. I rather teach my daughters how to pick a nice clean boy (no male wh*re) and use a condom (Fox News). Many patients reported feelings faint immediately after the injection and soreness of the area, but did not have many symptoms. A troubling article written by Dr. Mercola surfaced in July 2013, entitled Oncology Dietitian Exposes Fraud in CDCs HPV Vaccine Effectiveness Study, in which the doctor himself exposes major flaws in the CDCs testing of Gardasil effectiveness. The article assesses the total number of teens studied in the trial versus the number of those who were at risk for HPV by being sexually active. Of the 740 teens that were studied, only 358 were sexually active, putting them at risk for contracting HPV and allowing the vaccine to work at full potential. Out of the 358 sexually active teens, there were 111 that only received one dose of the vaccine, causing it to not reach full effectiveness and prevention prospective. Hence, the drugs were never tested to their maximum potential and were released and recommended to the public in 2006. Dr. Mercola also discusses the risk factors for cancer and other complications, notably sudden death, stating that Gardasil increases risk of cervical cancer, as well as increasing risk of precancerous lesions by 44.6% (Mercola). Since Gardasil was released and subsequently reviewed, it has not yet been proven effective in clinical trials. Another reason for questioning the Gardasil product arose after studies were completed on the vaccine and found possible harmful side effects, but some states were already in the process of making Gardasil a mandatory vaccine for all adolescents ages 11 and 12. Rick Perry Lambert 3 was chastised after campaigning in 2007 to make Gardasil a requirement for children in Texas, and recalled his request after doing research on the vaccine. It was later discovered that Merck had given a significant amount of funding to Perrys campaign, and also provided political support (Edwards). Perry said that at the time, he was simply trying to save human lives; although Gardasil has been proven to save lives, Perrys decision met opposition from parents who elected not to vaccinate their children. Lawmakers in Michigan who proposed that the vaccine be mandated were met with similar opinions, particularly those of religious conservatives who thought mandating the HPV vaccine would undermine abstinence-based teaching methods. Dr. Colgrove points out that there is also a growing trend linking vaccines to diseases like autism, diabetes, and multiple sclerosis. Ideas of only vaccinating those who are susceptible to HPV should be vaccinated have surfaced, however, only vaccinating a portion of the population has been proven ineffective for reducing incidence rates (Colgrove). Childhood vaccinations are becoming increasingly common, and mandating patient vaccination with particular drugs retracts parental autonomy, which sparks outrage amongst parents. One thought-provoking Gardasil supporting article analyzes the benefits of HPV vaccinations in society as a whole, and specifically mentions the bisexual and gay men that would benefit from the vaccination. According to CBS News, more than 60% of men without HIV and 90% of men with HIV who have sex with men are infected with HPV in their anal canals, and about 5,000 cases of HPV-initiated cancer arise each year. The news article adds that HPV does not only cause cervical cancer, but is also related the head, neck, and penile cancers. Although the vaccine costs a reported $300 per boy (three doses), it may be worth the monetary cost to suspend or eradicate the HPV epidemic among Americans (Edwards). The issue Lambert 4 of sexism in the medical industry is approached, addressing the egotistical issue that may arise in boys and men who receive the vaccine originally intended for women. Some consider it unfair for women to be encouraged or required to receive a vaccine with serious potential health risks while men are not required to risk their wellbeing to avoid HPV. However, emotional elements aside, Edwards did not delve into the issues in women caused by Gardasil, which might have influenced his opinion on the vaccine. Since adolescents age 9 to 26 are the CDCs target for Gardasil prescription, parents are often forced to decide whether they want to vaccinate their child for HPV. The two main arguments against vaccination are the possible harmful side effects and the ethical issue of deterring children from practicing abstinence. In 2013, The Resistance group posted an article titled US vaccine court pays $6 million to Gardasil victims, most claims not settled yet that surely put fear into some parents hearts by recounting the number of people who filed claims with the government and have not yet been addressed. There are currently 92 of 200 claims still waiting to be filed for things like causing injury, and 59 claims have been outright dismissed by the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (The Refusers). If regulations for the vaccine are passed despite these rashes of health issues, parents will be forced to either break the law and risk punishment or vaccinate their child and expose them to the health risks of Gardasil. Opposition has also been raised by religious conservatives who do not want to vaccinate their children for fear that the children will ignore abstinence-based teaching and messages about sexuality. Gardasil is proven only for cervical cancer and genital warts, so if children misread the vaccine as permission to engage in sexual activity, there is a danger they will not use additional birth control like a condom. This would result in not only an increase of sexually transmitted infections and diseases in that population, but could lead to an increase in teen pregnancy rates as Lambert 5 well as moral disruption in the community. Parents want to keep their children safe, but sometimes are not willing to accept that their child is or will be sexually active and will need the protection eventually.
2B. Social Organization Research Due to the controversial nature of the HPV vaccine, there are two conflicting points of view on the vaccination: The Refusers opposition and the Center for Disease Controls support. The Refusers are a rock band and blog formed by Bainbridge Island dad Michael Belkin, 10 years after his infant daughter died of complication with a Hepatitis B vaccine (The Refusers: Anti-Vaccination Rock and Roll.). The site is used for victims to blog about their complications with vaccines and regulated medicine and reply to others, and the site also posts news articles about recent updates in the medical world. The Refusers question every vaccine on the market and discusses their effects, side effects, and whether they are beneficial to the patient. One blogger and concerned parent, Maegan Soria, posted her story on the blog feed, recounting the vaccines her mother gave her and their negative side effects. Soria experienced painful swollen lymph nodes in a severe reaction after receiving a Hepatitis B vaccine and the Gardasil vaccine at separate times (The Refusers). The Refusers serve as references for people who have questions about vaccines and prescriptions, and to provide evidence against government-mandated vaccination programs. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is the strongest supporter of vaccinating children for HPV, advertising that vaccinations are strongly recommended for all children ages 11-12 (Merck). The CDC is a government-operated organization that was originally installed in July 1946 as Communicable Disease Control to help prevent the spread of fatal malaria throughout Lambert 6 the country. The abbreviation CDC has changed meanings since 1946 to Center for Disease Control and Prevention, to include all documented illness in the US. The CDC states on their website that their main goal is to protect America from health, safety and security threats, both foreign and in the U.S. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are chronic or acute, curable or preventable, human error or deliberate attack, CDC fights disease and supports communities and citizens to do the same (CDC). The Center for Disease Control is responsible for testing all prescription medicines along with the Federal Drug Administration for safety and harmful side effects; Gardasil alone was tested on over 29,000 men and women. The CDC states that Gardasil has been thoroughly studied for its potential side effects and continues to be monitored while being used by the public, focusing on rare events not identified in the study trials (CDC). Funding for The Refusers comes from fan donations, sponsorship, and a CD recorded by the group available for purchase online. The Refusers also support internal authors, providing a link to purchase the newest Refusers empowerment book. The organization raises awareness through powerful lyrics about the pharmacy controversy and making a personal decision on vaccinating rather than letting a healthcare professional tell one what they should or must do. The Refusers do not operate solely for monetary reasons; the support is always welcomed and appreciated, but not required. Their motto is music, education, activism (The Refusers). The band is simply trying to speak out to the public about their rights and the healthcare industry, and give lists of resources for parents making the decision to vaccinate. The consumer public is the target audience of The Refusers, as their goal is to spread awareness and promote independence in the medical field. The Center for Disease Control is government-operated and employs citizens of various specializations, ranging from teaching educational classes to administering vaccines abroad. Lambert 7 According to their website, the CDC hires employees in science, technology, medical and business positions, depending on what the applicant is interested in and the extent of their education. Since the CDC houses a variety of important functions, there is a multitude of different available positions. Many of the jobs within the CDC are salaried and full-time, although there are positions available for students and volunteers. The agency has gained momentum since its founding at a budget just under $10 million, while the fiscal year budget for 2012 was $6.8 billion. The center also releases about 85 percent of its annual budget to meet its mission in various countries, funding health services and emergency care (CDC). The Refusers have traveled to three different states in the past four years to bring educational rock music to United States citizens. They have played in Chicago, Napa, and Seattle, with no concert dates coming up soon. The Refusers band is comparable to a part-time job for the band members, as they also lead normal lives and have jobs outside of the band. They also have over 14,200 followers on Twitter, and 51,800 likes on Facebook, indicating that their message is clear and relatable to the public (The Refusers). The Refusers update their blog frequently, posting links to articles involving the pharmaceutical industry and stories of extreme negative side effects from vaccines. Bloggers post on the forum and are able to answer questions and respond to others, widening the knowledge pool of everyone involved. Some patients use the blog to record and monitor their own symptoms or condition, while others visit for advice or to learn more about vaccines. The site also contains a link to The Refusers store, where one may purchase books on vaccines and the debate behind mandatory vaccinations, as well as the groups newest album on CD. The Center for Disease Control hosts numerous conferences, meetings, and events to support world health, such as the annual National Immunization Conference (NIC). The NIC Lambert 8 brings together state, federal, and communal support through exploring science, medicine and technology to cure epidemic diseases and vaccinate against them (CDC). These conferences educate the public about the benefits and downsides of vaccinations so they can make an educated decision on their health, as well as learning about possible side effects and long-term effects. One main focus of this event is HPV vaccine communication, science and safety, which evolved from the publics questioning of the HPV vaccine and resultant hesitation to vaccinate themselves and/or their children (CDC). The CDC also has hotlines to call with questions about any health-related issue, and hundreds of volumes of teaching material on every kind of reported and studied disease, making it very useful and accessible for many. My interest in this topic arose from my childhood, when I had billions of questions about sexuality, human health, and society. I have always enjoyed studying the details of human interaction, and health is an integrated part of human life. The reason I am so interested in sexuality is because my family instilled values in me to hold sexual interactions as sacred, do not abuse them, and do not let anyone abuse your person. I am amazed by how commonplace sexual activity has become, and I would really enjoy studying anything related to sexuality, such as sexual heath, emotions, brain processes, and physical aspects, among other things. I would consider the CDC to be the most effective agency, since it is government-funded and uses legal as well as moral persuasion to promote health. However, I believe The Refusers organization is crucial to Americas public to provide insight and valuable information that goes unspoken by doctors, scientists, and news articles. Overall, I am a strong supporter of HPV research although, as a vaccinee myself, I wish I had discovered the Gardasil controversy before taking my doctors advice to receive the treatment.
Lambert 9 Works Cited Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d. Web. 14 July 2014. Colgrove, Dr. James. The Ethics and Politics of Compulsory HPV Vaccination. The New England Journal of Medicine 7 December 2006: n. pag. Web. 14 July 2014. Edwards, Jim. Rick Perrys Gardasil U-Turn: Heres what Actually Happened Back in 2007. CBS Money Watch 18 August 2011: n. pag. CBS. Web. 14 July 2014. Edwards, Jim. Girls as Guinea Pigs: What the CDCs Gardasil for Boys Issue Says About Sexism in Medicine. CBS Money Watch 1 November 2010: n. pag. CBS. Web. 14 July 2014. FDA. Gardasil. Vaccines, Blood & Biology (2014): n. pag. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Web. 14 July 2014. Fox News. Merck issues voluntary recall of 743,360 vials of Gardasil HPV vaccine. Fox News 20 December 2013: n. pag. Web. 14 July 2014. Merck. Gardasil. Merck & Co. (2013): n. pag. Web. 14 July 2014. Mercola, Dr. Joseph. 213 Women Who Took Gardasil Suffered Permanent Disability. Mercola 24 January 2012: n. pag. Web. 14 July 2014. Mercola, Dr. Joseph. Oncology Dietitian Exposes Fraud in CDCs HPV Vaccine Effectiveness Study. Mercola 16 July 2013: n. pag. Web. 16 July 2014. The Refusers: Anti-Vaccination Rock and Roll. Ring My Belle. KIRO Radio, Seattle Channel 97.3. 31 July 2012. The Refusers. US vaccine court pays $6 million to Gardasil victims, most claims not yet settled. Hear the Refusers 8 April 2013: n. pag. The Refusers. Web. 14 July 2014.