Gardasil and possible side effect(s)?

May 22, 2007

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21774785-1702,00.html

Calm urged on Gardasil

By Karen Collier and Jane Metlikovec

May 22, 2007 01:18pm

Article from:

Font size:

+

-

Send this article:

Print

Email

FEDERAL Health Minister Tony Abbott and health authorities have urged

parents not to panic over reports that dozens of teenage girls have been

sickened by a new cervical cancer vaccine.

In one case being investigated, a girl was left temporarily paralysed

and unable to talk after receiving the Australian-developed Gardasil

vaccine.

Health authorities have denied the cases are directly related to the

immunisation.

Federal Health Minister Tony Abbott and doctors urged parents not to

panic, saying the benefits outweighed the small risk of side effects.

Mr Abbott said risks were taken seriously but there was no evidence of a

serious problem with the vaccine.

Schoolgirls across Australia are being immunised with the breakthrough

Gardasil, developed by Professor Ian Frazer.

Australian Medical Association president Mukesh Haikerwal said it was

important girls were still vaccinated.

" We have got for the first time a vaccine that prevents

cancer, " Dr Haikerwal said.

Sacred Heart Girls' College student Natasha D'Souza was treated after she

was temporarily paralysed and unable to talk for hours after her

injection at the Oakleigh school on May 7.

The Royal Children's Hospital said the vaccine was not to blame and tests

on the girl were continuing today.

Natasha D'Souza was one of seven Victorian students taken to hospital

after vaccinations this month. Most fainted or complained of feeling

dizzy.

Sacred Heart Girls' College principal Christopher Dalton said today that

26 girls were taken to the school sick bay after injections.

Five were taken to the Monash Medical Centre, but hospital staff ruled

out vaccine complications.

" It is not uncommon for girls of this age group to react to

vaccinations in ways that are not necessarily physical in origin, "

Mr Dalton said.

The school will press ahead with more vaccinations next month.

Parents' permission is sought before students line up for shots, which is

given in three doses over six months.

Hundreds of girls in the US have reported reactions such as temporary

paralysis, fainting and broken bones from falling over after receiving

the shot.

Gardasil protects against strains of the human papilloma virus, or HPV,

that leads to most cervical cancers.

May 22, 2007

I find it inconceivable that we have placed the lives and fertility of these young women in jeopardy over the 'pie in the sky' possibility that a very small number of cancers "will" be stopped.

Jorge

May 22, 2007

I couldn't agree more Jorge. And then to

realise that the vaccination is taking place worldwide.. that means that

a whole generation of girls is subjected .. it sounds more like a guinea

pig exercise on a world wide scale..

At 07:18 PM 22/05/2007, you wrote:

I find it inconceivable that we have

placed the lives and fertility of these young women in jeopardy over the

'pie in the sky' possibility that a very small number of cancers

" will " be stopped.

Jorge

May 22, 2007

This evening there was a short piece on an evening news programme here to tell us that of the 720 girls injected recently ONLY 20 had side effects - one requiring hospitalization for paralysis - and it was suggested that the reactions were not physiological - in other words - these are hysterical reactions according to the health authorities and over 70,000 Australian children have been injected - heaven help us is all I can say.