New wrinkle in the Gardasil controversy – it’s infuriating!

Over the Line

Simone Davis is young British woman of 17 who wants to teach elementary school in Florida. But that dream is on hold because Simone refuses to receive the HPV vaccine Gardasil, made by Merck. In fact, Simone may actually be forced to leave the U.S., even though her adopted mother is married to a U.S. citizen.

This situation is beyond sad – it’s simply disgraceful. But if you’re one of the executives for Merck, it’s simply delightful that our government is so willing to help sell a highly suspect drug.

An easy sell

A colleague recently sent me a transcript of an ABC News report about Simone that literally had me gnashing my teeth in anger.

Simone is a devout Christian who is not sexually active. She’s even taken a pledge to refrain from sexual activity until she’s married. So she and her mother see no reason why she should get an expensive and potentially dangerous vaccine to protect her from a sexually transmitted disease.

But U.S. health officials view her situation quite differently.

Gardasil is recommended for young women between the ages of 11 and 26 who are not sexually active. So Simone lands squarely in the Gardasil demographic.

But here’s what makes Simone different from most U.S. high school students: She’s considered an immigrant. And here’s what makes me gnash my teeth: The law requires that female immigrants receive 14 vaccines recommended by the CDC. All but one of those vaccines guard against highly contagious diseases. The one exception: Gardasil.

This mandatory requirement is a hardship for many immigrants who may not have several hundred dollars to spend on a potentially dangerous vaccine that simply protects against SOME of the HPV strains that MIGHT cause cervical cancer.

But it sure is a sweet payday for Merck. Thanks, CDC!

No surprise

Dr. Jacques Moritz, director of gynecology at New York’s St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital, told ABC that he’s “pro- preventing cervical cancer,” but will not have his young daughter vaccinated with Gardasil because there are other ways to guard against the cancer.

Dr. Moritz notes that the vaccine is voluntary for U.S. citizens, so he’s puzzled by the immigration requirement: “I am most definitely surprised and I would love to know how it ever became policy. I wonder if the drug company could have had any influence.”

Yes. One wonders.

But for Simone’s mother Jean, it’s personal. She told ABC: “All we want is the rights of a U.S. citizen. It’s not mandatory for them to get this. That’s our objection. My choice to make an informed decision for the health of my child has been taken away.”

Meanwhile, an FDA advisory panel recently recommended that boys and young men between the ages of 9 and 26 should receive Gardasil to prevent genital warts. Will anyone be surprised if FDA officials rubber-stamp this recommendation?

And will anyone be surprised if the CDC recommends it?

And will anyone be surprised if young male immigrants are eventually required to receive the vaccine?

And will anyone be surprised to see Merck executives dancing in the streets?

You can find detailed information about the dangers of Gardasil in a video I recently made about this unnecessary vaccine.

Source:
“Girl Rejects Gardasil, Loses Path to Citizenship” Susan Donaldson James, ABC News, 9/11/09, abcnews.go.com