[back] Gardasil

Gardasil reactions must be taken seriously

For immediate release - May 22nd 2007

The Australian Vaccination Network (AVN), a national parent and
health-professional run lobby group urges the federal government to stop
ignoring reactions suffered by schoolgirls across Australia. "Hysteria
is nothing more than an excuse which would never be used if we were
talking about boys being vaccinated. Hysteria does not cause paralysis
nor can it cause someone to lose consciousness for over 2 hours." says
Meryl Dorey, National President of the AVN. "In fact, looking at the
information from the vaccine manufacturer as well as the reactions that
have been reported in the US, we find the following facts:

FACT: Out of the 385 individual Gardasil adverse event reports made to
VAERS (the Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting Service), two-thirds
required additional medical care .

FACT: The most common reactions reported were syncopal
(collapse/fainting) episodes that can be accompanied by seizure
activity, as well as symptoms of tingling, numbness and loss of
sensation in the fingers and limbs - exactly the sorts of reactions
experienced by the girls in Victoria, and all evidence of neurological
complications.

FACT: In the original study of 21,000 vaccinees, there were 102 serious
reactions reported with 17 deaths. Rather then the perfectly safe
vaccine we are told Gardasil is, nearly 90% of those in this study
suffered an adverse reaction - a very high number indeed!

FACT: There are more than 15 types of HPV associated with cervical
cancer but Gardasil only contains two of them - types 16 and 18. Perhaps
this is why the government says that even with 100% vaccination, annual
pap smears will still be needed.

FACT: Rather then being well tested as Minister Abbott said, this
vaccine was only tested on 1,200 girls in the age group which is now
receiving these shots. This study which was conducted by the vaccine
manufacturer, only followed these girls for a very short time, and used
a toxic adjuvant - aluminium hydroxide - as a placebo. By comparing one
toxic substance to another, the study invalidates any evidence of
safety.

FACT: Several of the girls who participated in the vaccine study
developed lesions and genital warts. One 22 year old developed an HPV
infection despite high levels of antibodies to all 4 strains of HPV
contained in the vaccine.

"The government has a duty of care to ensure that all vaccines are safe
and effective before they are used on our children. Gardasil is an
experimental vaccine whose safety and effectiveness is under question.
We here at the AVN have had more reaction reports to this vaccine in the
short time it's been used here then we've had to any other shot. Please
Mr Health Minister, do not ignore these girls. They deserve so much
better!"

http://www.avn.org.au/