Big surprise of the week

[Guest guest]

[wddty.co.uk]

 

CERVICAL CANCER:  Calls for compulsory vaccine programme is funded by

? the manufacturer

 

Such is the clamour for governments around the world to adopt mass

immunisation programmes for adolescent girls against cervical cancer

that a mass rally took place in Paris last week.  It included leading

doctors from all over Europe who shared a platform with celebrities.

 

They were calling for the universal take-up of the cervical cancer

vaccine Gardasil, the only one on the market, which is manufactured by

Sanofi Pasteur.

And guess what?  The rally and support campaign were funded entirely

by Sanofi Pasteur, who have so far put in more than £1 million ($1.9m)

to get their new vaccine adopted by governments.  They paid for the

travel expenses of most of those who attended the rally in Paris, which

was heralded as ?the first global summit against cervical cancer?, and

some also received an attendance fee.

Sanofi Pasteur?s tactics have been likened to a ?battering ram?,

although they are hardly different from any other drug company. 

 

True, early trials suggested the vaccine provides protection against

four common types of human papillomavirus, which can cause cervical and

vulval pre-cancers and genital warts, but nobody is sure of the

vaccine?s longterm health risks.

Health officials are also concerned that a mass vaccine programme would

also deflect against adult screening, which they view as being equally

as important.

But throw enough money at something, and any minor resistance gets

trampled over, as can be witnessed in the USA where 20 states are

planning to make the vaccine compulsory despite the concerns of

parents.  That?s science for you.

 

(Source:  The Guardian, March 26, 2007).