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| Letters to the EditorTuesday, April 24, 2007 12:28 AM CDT |
Base vaccine views on scientific evidence
This is in response to Dr. David Ayoub's letter (``Don't be too quick to embrace HPV vaccine,'' YourViews, April 5) Dr. Ayoub's allegations of the inefficacy and negative side effects of Gardasil are not based on any peer-reviewed scientific evidence supported by the medical or public health communities. Dr. Ayoub is a radiologist and director of an anti-vaccine public interest group and medical director of a group that purports a causal relationship between vaccine preservative and autism spectrum disorders - a stance that is also not supported by peer-reviewed literature or scientific evidence. Knowing his roles in these organizations is important in understanding his position on vaccine issues. Gardasil has been approved and licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This review process is vigorous. The vaccine has been tested in over 11,000 women around the world and the side effects experienced were minor, reported in only a fraction of those studied and on par with side effects reported with the placebo. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Disease Control record any known adverse events after vaccination, regardless of whether they have a causal relationship with the vaccine. While long-term effects of this vaccine are unknown, such is the case for most drugs winning FDA approval. It is estimated that 11,150 new cases of cervical cancer and 3,670 deaths will occur in the United States this year. We now have the ability to prevent the majority of those cases. This is paramount to any minor risks that may be associated with the vaccine. This vaccine prevents HPV, a prevalent sexually transmitted disease, and cancer. Parents should bear this in mind and consider this vaccine for their daughters, regardless of it being made mandatory. The decision should be based on sound, scientific research and should not be clouded by opinions that are not underpinned by credible evidence. Trish Cleary El Paso The writer is McLean County Health Department Immunization Clinic supervisor. |
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