Spinal Fire Scientia Est Potentia

Drug maker Pushes for Forced Vaccination against Sexually Transmitted Cancer Virus

Jeremiah Haynes
www.spinalfire.com

February 2nd 2007-Governor Rick Perry of Texas issues an executive order by passing the states legislators mandating all schoolgirls entering the sixth grade as of 2008 must be injected with a 3 round vaccination for a sexually transmitted form of cancer. The vaccine in question, Gardasil, is being lobbied by its manufacturer New Jersey based Merck in 17 states. Ultimately Merck would like to see this vaccine placed on the mandatory vaccination list on all 50 states, however Texas is the only victory to date.

The Washington Times reports; “negative side effects of Gardasil, a new Merck vaccine to prevent the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer, are being reported in the District of Columbia and 20 states, including Virginia. The reactions range from loss of consciousness to seizures.

"Young girls are experiencing severe headaches, dizziness, temporary loss of vision and some girls have lost consciousness during what appear to be seizures," said Vicky Debold, health policy analyst for the National Vaccine Information Center, a nonprofit watchdog organization that was created in the early 1980s to prevent vaccine injuries.” (Washington Times)
This Merck/Gadasil issue has raised several questions among skeptics. First, how do Americans feel about their children being forcibly immunized? Granted this vaccine is not yet mandatory however the attempt is being made to make this a law. Second, why is this vaccine only being pushed on girls? Aren't men also carriers of the HPV virus? Finally, this vaccine contains recombinant DNA which is essentially a mutated strand of the cancer virus DNA encased in protein. Cancer has these days become ubiquitous; its etiology has been theorized to stem from environmental pollutants, heredity, diet, and now viruses.
According to the American Cancer Society;
"About 3,670 women will die from cervical cancer in the United States during 2007. Cervical cancer was once one of the most common causes of cancer death for American women. Between 1955 and 1992, the number of cervical cancer deaths in the United States dropped by 74%. The main reason for this change is the increased use of the Pap test. This screening procedure can find changes in the cervix before cancer develops. It can also find early cancer in its most curable stage. The death rate from cervical cancer continues to decline by nearly 4% a year."
Gardasil only protects against Types 6,11,16 and 18 of HPV, and Merck admits; “Gardasil may not fully protect everyone and does not prevent all types of cervical cancer, so it is important to continue regular cervical cancer screenings.”(merck.com). Merck’s detractors ask; with the death rate of this cancer dropping by 4% every year due to the increased prevalence of Pap screening do we even need a vaccine for HPV? Merck itself admits that its vaccine isn’t enough to totally protect against HPV, Pap screening is still needed. Many watchdog groups have been asking why Merck insists that the vaccine be mandatory for every girl in the US since the risk of this form of cancer can ultimately be linked to lifestyle choices. While cancer is a horrible disease does this justify the forcible injection of this vaccine on millions of children who aren’t even sexually active yet? Further "There is no proof Gardasil will stop cervical cancer," said Clayton Young, an obstetrician/gynecologist in Texas, "They haven't been studying it long enough to make that claim." (Watson 2007) Others have raised questions about the drugs safety in relations to the aluminum and mercury which have been linked to early onset Alzheimer’s and Autism respectively.
Many who are against Texas’s adoption of mandatory injection including many of Governor Perry’s conservative allies voice concerns that the “nanny” state is attempting to usurp the authority of parents by giving precedence to the pharmaceutical industry. Merck is defending itself by claiming that their lobbying has been above board and that there is nothing underhanded whatsoever about their approach to the situation. However “…Merck has funneled money through Women in Government, an advocacy group made up of female state legislators around the country. A top official from Merck’s vaccine division sits on Women in Government’s business council, and many of the bills around the country have been introduced by members of Women in Government.” (AP 2007). Could the fact that a there is an official from Merck’s vaccine division sitting on the business council of the organization attempting to introduce these laws constitute a conflict of interest?
Another complaint raised by concerned parties is that a mandatory Gardasil is nothing less than an economic boon for Merck. “Drug-industry analyst Steve Brozak of W.B.B. Securities has projected Gardasil sales of at least $1 billion per year — and billions more if states start requiring the vaccine. “I could not think of a bigger boost,”… (AP 2007)
In another incredibly lucrative twist it turns out that the Vaccine is only effective for five years and Merck claims that is doesn’t know the efficacy of the vaccine after that time period claiming that “an additional booster shot may be necessary” Therefore by executive order in Texas every 11 year old girl will be forced to inject this vaccine at $360, ostensibly followed every 5 years by another booster until she graduates high school or attends a college which may have also adopted the vaccine as mandatory.
Two things are certain in this issue. HPV will not be eradicated, as males are not targeted by the vaccine, and Merck’s stock prices will inevitably soar.

American Cancer Society (2007) Detailed Guide; Cervical Cancer
(http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1X_What_are_the_key_st...)

Associated Press (2007) Drug maker wants law to require STD shot
Girls as young as 11 would have to be immunized against cervical cancer (http://www.msnbe.msn.com/id/16891832/)

Lopez, Gregory (2007) Vaccine center issues warning (http://www.washingtontimes.com/business/20070202-100152-9747r.htm)

Merck’s official Website (2007) http://www.gardasil.com/

Watson, Paul Joseph and Jones, Alex (2007) No Law to Mandate Dangerous Untested HPV Vaccine (http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/february2007/060207nolaw.htm)