Merck suspends lobbying for Gardasil vaccine

kidznurse · Feb 21, 2007

would be better don't you think that the requirement for school attendance be either a certificate of vaccination or a certificate of exemption for those who don't believe in the vaccination. that way those who are missing out on vaccination through oversight or apathy will be identified. those who oppose the vaccination have their democratic right upheld.

jjjoy, LPN · Feb 21, 2007

If the medical/public health community believes that the vaccine should be mandated (with an opt-out choice) for school age girls then the medical community should be lobbying for it, not the pharmaceutical company that profits from sales.

caroladybelle, BSN, RN · Feb 21, 2007

My issue with this.

The vaccine is for HPV, not specifically cervical cancer. And while 70% of cervical cancer is due to HPV, there are other issues that should come into play.

Why is the marketing for only girls to get the vaccine? Females are not the only ones that get HPV. HPV DOES have consequences for males and is incurable. While they may not make as prominent news or be as deadly as cervical cancer, men should be just as required to get the shots to, as they are a major part of the spread of the virus. The EU and Australia have approved the use in young males, but the USA hasn't. It is suspected that prevention of HPV will decrease some cancers found in males.

Why in the USA was this initially tested mainly on females and approved for females, when almost every other vaccine is tested on males or on both genders. Do men not have a stake in this?

In addition, are we requiring the Hep B vaccine in all children of that age? Many of the same activities that spread HPV, also spread HepB, and the illness and deathes that come from that are spread across BOTH genders.

kidznurse · Feb 21, 2007

If the medical/public health community believes that the vaccine should be mandated (with an opt-out choice) for school age girls then the medical community should be lobbying for it, not the pharmaceutical company that profits from sales.

I agree the pharmaceutical companies agendas are as suspect as the petro-chemical companies agendas. The big businesses do however seem to have governments in their pockets.Or am I just a dumb conspiracy theorist?

kidznurse · Feb 21, 2007

My issue with this.
The vaccine is for HPV, not specifically cervical cancer. And while 70% of cervical cancer is due to HPV, there are other issues that should come into play.
Why is the marketing for only girls to get the vaccine? Females are not the only ones that get HPV. HPV DOES have consequences for males and is incurable. While they may not make as prominent news or be as deadly as cervical cancer, men should be just as required to get the shots to, as they are a major part of the spread of the virus. The EU and Australia have approved the use in young males, but the USA hasn't. It is suspected that prevention of HPV will decrease some cancers found in males.
Why in the USA was this initially tested mainly on females and approved for females, when almost every other vaccine is tested on males or on both genders. Do men not have a stake in this?
In addition, are we requiring the Hep B vaccine in all children of that age? Many of the same activities that spread HPV, also spread HepB, and the illness and deathes that come from that are spread across BOTH genders.

Yes

I've heard that HPV is implicated in prostate cancer. Could the vaccine be targeted at females because of some old sexist ideology men not being considered promiscuous when having multiple sex partners but merely virile. Treat the girls then they won't infect the boys. I don't know. What do you think the meaning is?

sunnyjohn · Feb 21, 2007

I support the public health people who feel this vaccine is a good thing.

I also think pharmaceutical money and religion should be taken out of this equation.

jjjoy, LPN · Feb 21, 2007

I agree that males should also be encouraged to be vaccinated. They are the ones most likely to spread HPV since they are less likely than women to be aware they're infected.

burn out · Feb 21, 2007

I think it was too much too fast. It was like one day we are hearing about HPV and the next we have a vaccine that we are giving school age girls. I may be a little slow but I need sometime to process things and do not like having mandated vaccinations shoved down my throat (or poked in my arm). This was just a get rich quick scheme from Merck in conjunction with puppet politicians.

htrn · Feb 21, 2007

I have already started my 15 y/o daughter on the series, will start my other daughter on the series as soon as she is old enough and look forward to the day when my boys can get it as well.

Let's just assume that my girls and boys will marry as virgins and only have one partner for the rest of their lives (yea right) - they could be exposed to HPV by their spouses. OR, God forbid, there is a rape in one of their lives, they could be exposed to HPV and other STDs by the rapist.

By vaccinating them I can significantly reduce their risk of developing cervical cancer, and possibly save their lives, you better believe I am going to do it.

grace90, LPN, LVN · Feb 22, 2007

Why is the marketing for only girls to get the vaccine? Females are not the only ones that get HPV. HPV DOES have consequences for males and is incurable. While they may not make as prominent news or be as deadly as cervical cancer, men should be just as required to get the shots to, as they are a major part of the spread of the virus. The EU and Australia have approved the use in young males, but the USA hasn't. It is suspected that prevention of HPV will decrease some cancers found in males.

I have been wondering that, too. Why not give it to every teen, then, male and female, since it is a *sexually :blushkiss transmitted* virus?

allnurses Guide · Feb 22, 2007

I have been wondering that, too. Why not give it to every teen, then, male and female, since it is a *sexually :blushkiss transmitted* virus?

It is being tested on males with the hopes of being provided to males in 2008 if the trials go well.