Comments on: What is Wrong with the United States?!

By: Stephen Mok

Stephen Mok — Sun, 20 May 2007 01:10:40 +0000

Yeah for sure Kieren. I mean, it’s not like HPV is the only STI in existence in the first place and that was the only thing stopping kids from having unprotected sex in the first place.

By: Kieren Po

Kieren Po — Thu, 17 May 2007 11:02:20 +0000

The whole promiscuity issue comes from people who live in denial. To these people, apparently, a vaccine that is 100% efficacious in preventing cervical carcinomas associated with HPV-16 & HPV-18 — around 70% — is unnecessary because in their minds young teenagers aren’t having (unprotected) sex. Clearly, at a population level, this is wishful thinking… And let’s not even mention the anti-vaccination crowd that seems to have chimed in with their usual rhetoric.

This is the sort of irrational thinking that makes us health professionals collectively bang our heads against the wall. At least even our conservative government is rational enough to see the importance of HPV vaccination in the context of public health.

By: Stephen Mok

Stephen Mok — Wed, 16 May 2007 16:52:52 +0000

Jesi: sorry you first comment didn’t show up for a while. It got picked up by the automatic spam filter and I had to manually approve it.

I’ve read about a lot of people asking similar questions to you about the long-term effectiveness and potential side effects of Gardasil. Please don’t get me wrong, I think those questions are legitimate and do need to be asked. However, apparently it is cost effective. (Take a look at this recent New York Times article: HPV Vaccine: Few Risks, Many Benefits.)

On the other hand, the whole of this blog post was that I was angry about people who are using the “vaccinating against HPV will encourage promiscuity” argument. That stands.

By: jesi

jesi — Wed, 16 May 2007 02:13:09 +0000

By: jesi

jesi — Wed, 16 May 2007 02:06:40 +0000

Opposition in the US about Gardasil is controversial because Merck seems first and formost adamant to get this vaccine out so it can pay off massive lawsuits against it’s drug VIOXX! Second the drug has not had long term testing to know if it is safe for our 9 to 12 crowd. Third why not vaccinate the boys too? Vaccine series have to be repeated after a period of time at the tune of $300 to $400 per year?
Hmmm that;s alot of money for Merck!!!!
I just heard recently there was a life saving drug for malaria(a different drug company) and the price per injection 50 cents to $1.00…..hmmm
ANother drug (Merck) that s helps some diarreaha virus in small babies …yeah that drug can cause such cramping the babies intestines can twist and cause death…..Wow…just do a search about Mercks drugs and they just might scare you!!!!