Sometimes the system works and the people prevail.
Case in point: the successful groundswell of public opposition to the well
orchestrated and synchronized approval, release, and lobbying efforts by
Merck, and governmental mandating of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine,
Gardasil.
In a previous Medicine Men Column on Feb. 9, 2007, "Merck lobbyists work for
papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine mandates: Parental rights advocates say mandate
premature," we commented on both our own concerns and those of medical
groups such as The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS):
• At best, the vaccine is only partly effective. No study has actually
shown cancer prevention, only a reduction in abnormal Pap smears.
• Vaccine protection may only last a few years. Boosters may be needed
every 10 years, or perhaps every five.
• There is no public-health purpose for mandating HPV vaccine for
schoolchildren.
• Safety is a concern, and so far proof of safety is lacking. The vaccine
is claimed to be safe and "well-tolerated," but studies have involved only a
few thousand women, most over 16 years of age, for less than five years.
• Mandates are medically unethical. All medical procedures, including
vaccines, require informed consent, with rare exceptions.
• A survey of pediatric practices in Virginia revealed that parents could
be charged between $525 and $930 for the series of shots.
• Laws were proposed in at least 18 states, including California,
Connecticut, Michigan, Minnesota, and Texas. The bill was narrowly defeated
in Michigan.
Through the united efforts of the many organizations, individuals of the
"Hands Off Our Kids" coalition there has been significant progress in
halting the progress of HPV vaccine mandating in legislatures across the
county.
The biggest news is in Texas, where the legislature has passed a bill
overturning the governor's Executive Order with enough votes to kill his
likely veto. Dawn Richardson worked tirelessly there.
In California, the bill's own sponsor tabled it this week because he
realized he didnt even have enough votes to get it out of committee, much
less pass the Assembly.
Washington and New Mexico have passed bills that call for information
distribution only, not a mandate. And Wyoming has expanded funds to be
available for low-income girls to receive the vaccine. Women picketed the
D.C. city council last week to express their opposition.
The big disappointment is in Virginia, where the newly-elected Democrat Tim
Kaine signed the mandate into law the beginning of this month.
On Feb. 22, Merck announced that it has suspended its campaign to persuade
state legislatures to mandate Gardasil, the human papillomavirus vaccine,
for schoolgirls, after running into unexpected opposition from parents and
medical groups.
Rep. Phil Gingrey, R-Ga., has introduced H.R. 1153, the "Parental Right to
Decide Protection Act" that would block all federal funding for any vaccine
mandate, including those passed by states.
A lead researcher who has been working on the HPV vaccine development for
more than 20 years has now gone public, saying that the mandate is wrong,
and could result in higher rates of cervical cancer. Further, she accuses
the drug company of "overselling" the vaccine as a cancer preventative.
The lesson here is that when we have concerned parents and medical
organizations working together in concert the people can make a difference.
The Texas retort gives us hope for Virginia and other states.
In retrospect I wonder whether the nation might not have been ready for a
vaccine dropped so suddenly and were therefore blindsided without warning.
Normally when there is a vaccine developed for long-known and feared medical
monster contagious diseases like smallpox, polio and others the response is
overwhelmingly enthusiastic.
In this case the public wanted and needed more information for an informed
consent. Someday the HPV vaccine may be universally welcomed and this
Medicine Man encourages and supports further studies.
Note: Michael Arnold Glueck, M.D., wrote this week's commentary
