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Letters to the EditorTuesday, April 24, 2007 12:28 AM CDT
Base vaccine views on scientific evidence
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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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Reader comments on this story - 16 total

Note: All views and opinions expressed in reader comments are solely those of the individual submitting the comment, and not those of the Pantagraph or its staff.

ayoub wrote on Apr 26, 2007 4:22 PM:

" 1) efficacy and effectiveness are not the same. There is NO data on effectiveness at preventing cancer prevention and there have already been reports of HPV infection in vaccine recipients to VAERS, so even efficacy cannot be 100% 2) complications not published in peer -review? Where did you get that from, Merck's library? Do some reading before you write these things. 3) i never stated i was anti-vaccine. Wanting the CDC and public health to remove mercury as they urged in 1999 does not make me any more anti-vaccine than these agencies. Give me a break! 4) this is NOT about the vaccine program in general, but about industry paying for research that profits themselves. This is about forcing bad science on the American public. What did we learn from VIOXX? Maybe Merck learned how to influence legislators more effectively. 5) I would love to jhave a public debate with Cleary and would offer to donate $500 to a charity in Bloomington in the spirit of truth and freedom of speech. But public health officials often draw the line, generally not being brave enough to face the light of truth or someone who knows more than they do. "

SJT wrote on Apr 26, 2007 12:01 AM:

" FROM CANCER MONTHLY....READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE FOR THE FULL INFORMATION: Gardasil - the Cervical Cancer Vaccine? from www.cancermonthly.com/iNP/view.asp?ID=169 When Cancer Monthly began looking at the research that enabled this "cervical cancer vaccine" to receive FDA approval we were astounded to find that this approval was not based on the vaccine's actual prevention of cervical cancer. Instead a surrogate was used - precancerous lesions....How effective is Gardasil in decreasing the incidence of cervical cancer? 100%? 50%? No one really knows because this question has not yet been answered. As of today, the Gardasil vaccine has never been proven to decrease the actual incidence of cervical cancer.......(article continues) "

Hg bad wrote on Apr 25, 2007 3:13 PM:

" Vaccines can be an important part of society but like most things in life there is a right way and wrong way to do things. Like giving infants from the age of 0 to 18 months 34 shots with most of them containing neurological toxins. One of the primary causes of disease was poor sanitation in the cities and by the time vaccines came around a better sanitation was in place and diseases were already on the decline. Don't be fooled by the propaganda. "

Patriot wrote on Apr 25, 2007 2:45 PM:

" Gardisil will not stop the majority of cervical cancer occurances. I imagine you mean that the review process is "rigorous" even though it is really not. This is but another corrupt smoke and mirrors process from Big Pharma trying to make us sicker and spend more money while we die. Vaccines, in general, do not work. In fact, they make us more susceptible to the diseases that they are intending to stop. See the work of Dr. Sherri Tenpenney or the 1898 report by Alfred Russell Wallace regarding smallpox. He showed conclusively that people getting the smallpox vaccine were SIX times more likely to get it and if they got it they were EIGHT times more likely to die from it. Seriously, read the current work of Dr. Sherri Tenpenney and learn. Don't be fodder material for the system. "

hey to research wrote on Apr 25, 2007 1:33 PM:

" why is it you can walk into a health food store and buy toothpaste that contains no flouride. Why is their a market for such a product? ""because flouride is one of the most poisonous substances on the face of the planet, is used for making insecticides and is mandated by gov. to be added to the public drinking water supply"". Folks, you have a computer, check out flouride, vaccine dangers. As stated "They have made it their business" "

To Research wrote on Apr 25, 2007 12:03 PM:

" Obviously, you do not remember the ravages of polio, or flu epidemics. Vaccination is, along with quality drinking water, the most important component of public health measures in any country. Because unvaccinated people place a burden on our healthcare system, there is cost shifting so that others have to pay for their care. Therefore, it is our business if people decide to become disease vectors. "

Research wrote on Apr 25, 2007 11:10 AM:

" Do a little research that is not just based on the answer you WANT to hear and you will see that vaccines aren't a godsend by any means. Further more, it is not like it is your business if people don't vaccinate. That is the problem with people, they only reasearch the side they want to hear. DUH. You will never know the truth. "

Meh wrote on Apr 25, 2007 8:29 AM:

" Watch the documentary, Jesus Camp, and you'll see that BN Republican is a stereotypical evangelical Christian. "

Pam Martens wrote on Apr 25, 2007 7:28 AM:

" Dr. Ayoub is not alone in concerns about the dangers and efficacy of Gardasil. Two HPV scientists who conducted clinical trials for Gardasil have warned that long term health risks are unknown; the Wall St. Journal last week exposed how efficacy claims had been hyped; Cancer Monthly last week raised the question as to whether there is any legitimate basis for Gardasil's claims. And Trish Cleary has apparently not bothered to read the adverse event reports for Gardasil at the Federal Government's web site. The same day that Gardasil is given, girls and women are reporting seizures, convulsions, loss of consciousness, and a broad array of serious side effects. Pam Martens "

To: Trish wrote on Apr 25, 2007 2:27 AM:

" So the long term effects are not known. I have a degree in Physiology. This doesn't sound like good science it sounds like politics. A ethical scientist would say additional studies are needed. The chicken pox vaccine which was forced upon our children has been determined now to not immunize for life. Because of politics not science have we now subjected our children to shingles?? You say their are minor risks with this vaccine. But the long term effects are not known. "

To BN Republican wrote on Apr 24, 2007 7:42 PM:

" Is that you again, Fachna? Your impersonation of Christians is so twisted. This HPV vaccination is also a concern of many people who are not Christians and with good reason. "

mystery wrote on Apr 24, 2007 1:38 PM:

" why do cheetos and pop tarts list their ingredients while vaccines do their best not to? Mercury, live virus, chicken embryos, fomaldohyde, ether, detergent (that's to keep it clean). All in the name of "good health". And thanks to are great leaders such as Ms. Cleary, I'm feeling better already. (anything to keep that needle away from "me"). "

ASD wrote on Apr 24, 2007 1:17 PM:

" April is officially autism awareness month. This year, however, it will be June is when the autism omnibus proceedings will begin to decide if thimerosal, a preservative in vaccines which is 49.7% mercury a known neurotoxin and or the MMR is the cause of the autism epidemic. The CDC assures us it is not. The CDC recommends and profits from the vaccine program. This is a conflict of interest. This would be like the tobacco companies doing a study on the health benefits of cigarettes. Not to mention implicating themselves in a multi-billion dollar lawsuit if they did admit guilt. Autism is at an epidemic rate of 1-150 births. 1-6 children today have some sort of neurological disorder. Don’t be a victim and take it for granted our government knows what is best for the masses. Research and make your own educated decision. "

ASD wrote on Apr 24, 2007 12:18 PM:

" April is officially autism awareness month. This year, however, it will be June is when the autism omnibus proceedings will begin to decide if thimerosal, a preservative in vaccines which is 49.7% mercury a known neurotoxin and or the MMR is the cause of the autism epidemic. The CDC assures us it is not. The CDC recommends and profits from the vaccine program. This is a conflict of interest. This would be like the tobacco companies doing a study on the health benefits of cigarettes. Not to mention implicating themselves in a multi-billion dollar lawsuit if they did admit guilt. Autism is at an epidemic rate of 1-150 births. 1-6 children today have some sort of neurological disorder. Don’t be a victim and take it for granted our government knows what is best for the masses. Research and make your own educated decision. "

ASD wrote on Apr 24, 2007 12:17 PM:

" April is officially autism awareness month. This year, however, it will be June is when the autism omnibus proceedings will begin to decide if thimerosal, a preservative in vaccines which is 49.7% mercury a known neurotoxin and or the MMR is the cause of the autism epidemic. The CDC assures us it is not. The CDC recommends and profits from the vaccine program. This is a conflict of interest. This would be like the tobacco companies doing a study on the health benefits of cigarettes. Not to mention implicating themselves in a multi-billion dollar lawsuit if they did admit guilt. Autism is at an epidemic rate of 1-150 births. 1-6 children today have some sort of neurological disorder. Don’t be a victim and take it for granted our government knows what is best for the masses. Research and make your own educated decision. "

BN Republican wrote on Apr 24, 2007 6:14 AM:

" You lost me at science. This is a faith-based community and a faith-based country. If people would only reconnect with their Almighty God, there would be no need for a vaccine or cancer cures. Faith conquers all. Praise be. "

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