Comments on: An Update on the Gardasil Vaccine Controversy http://themoderatevoice.com/11048/an-update-on-the-gardasil-vaccine-controversy/ An Internet hub with domestic and international news, analysis, original reporting, and popular features from the left, center, indies, centrists, moderates, and right Sun, 27 May 2012 22:56:18 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.2 By: Jim B http://themoderatevoice.com/11048/an-update-on-the-gardasil-vaccine-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-54378 Jim B Thu, 22 Feb 2007 16:36:28 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/business/an-update-on-the-gardasil-vaccine-controversy/#comment-54378 CS, that is what I figured you were getting at. If they can get it to work for males, I would think it could substantially cut down on the transmission. Hopefully this is just a stepping stone, and more strains will be included as they get further along in testing. I stand by my declaration before, that IF I had a daughter around 11, I'd probably wait until she was 16 or so. Merck has some skeletons in their recent closet, I think this needs some time in the real world before being pushed out too hard. I do know they are using it in Australia, of course they are subsidizing it substantially for their citizens. So in 3-4 years I think we may see a big leap in the capability of the drug, OR maybe its ineffectiveness. CS, that is what I figured you were getting at. If they can get it to work for males, I would think it could substantially cut down on the transmission. Hopefully this is just a stepping stone, and more strains will be included as they get further along in testing.
I stand by my declaration before, that IF I had a daughter around 11, I’d probably wait until she was 16 or so. Merck has some skeletons in their recent closet, I think this needs some time in the real world before being pushed out too hard.
I do know they are using it in Australia, of course they are subsidizing it substantially for their citizens. So in 3-4 years I think we may see a big leap in the capability of the drug, OR maybe its ineffectiveness.

]]> By: C Stanley http://themoderatevoice.com/11048/an-update-on-the-gardasil-vaccine-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-54352 C Stanley Thu, 22 Feb 2007 12:44:42 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/business/an-update-on-the-gardasil-vaccine-controversy/#comment-54352 Jim B, I was only speaking theoretically about how vaccines work. You're right that this disease is more complex than a single strain virus, so my comment would apply only to potentially eradicating this one strain of the HPV virus. I was only making the point that IF it is not transmitted from male to male (and I don't know if that is true or not), the theoretically the prevalance level would drop precipitously if all females in the population were vaccinated. That still assumes 100% efficacy in vaccinates, etc...so I'm doubtful. But it separates these issues from the issue of whether or males need to be vaccinated in order to acheive the desired result. Jim B,
I was only speaking theoretically about how vaccines work. You’re right that this disease is more complex than a single strain virus, so my comment would apply only to potentially eradicating this one strain of the HPV virus. I was only making the point that IF it is not transmitted from male to male (and I don’t know if that is true or not), the theoretically the prevalance level would drop precipitously if all females in the population were vaccinated. That still assumes 100% efficacy in vaccinates, etc…so I’m doubtful. But it separates these issues from the issue of whether or males need to be vaccinated in order to acheive the desired result.

]]> By: Jim B http://themoderatevoice.com/11048/an-update-on-the-gardasil-vaccine-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-54298 Jim B Wed, 21 Feb 2007 23:16:50 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/business/an-update-on-the-gardasil-vaccine-controversy/#comment-54298 C Stanley, do you mean eradicating Cervical Cancer, or HPV? The human papilloma viruses (HPVs) are a group of more than 70 different types of virus. I think Gardasil only works on 4 strains right now. Even if they immunize all 11-12 yr olds now, we won't see results for 10 years at least, maybe longer. Think about it, if they started having sex around 18, it may not show up for them until in their mid 20s and possibly later, or never. I don't think this is the silver bullet to the HPV issue, nor the cervical cancer issue. If they can get to say, 20 strains, then yes I see it having a huge effect, but not until then. C Stanley, do you mean eradicating Cervical Cancer, or HPV? The human papilloma viruses (HPVs) are a group of more than 70 different types of virus. I think Gardasil only works on 4 strains right now.

Even if they immunize all 11-12 yr olds now, we won’t see results for 10 years at least, maybe longer. Think about it, if they started having sex around 18, it may not show up for them until in their mid 20s and possibly later, or never. I don’t think this is the silver bullet to the HPV issue, nor the cervical cancer issue. If they can get to say, 20 strains, then yes I see it having a huge effect, but not until then.

]]> By: Sam http://themoderatevoice.com/11048/an-update-on-the-gardasil-vaccine-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-54238 Sam Wed, 21 Feb 2007 17:02:14 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/business/an-update-on-the-gardasil-vaccine-controversy/#comment-54238 Drug companies are too aggressive in their marketing for specific products like this. I know they dropped millions upon millions to produce it, but their attempts to ram it down the states throats sends up warning flags to me for some reason. It is still in the early stages, and this company has had recalls before. The idea of a drug company having enough pull to make one of its products required is somewhat chilling, I'm glad they have backed off. Drug companies are too aggressive in their marketing for specific products like this. I know they dropped millions upon millions to produce it, but their attempts to ram it down the states throats sends up warning flags to me for some reason. It is still in the early stages, and this company has had recalls before. The idea of a drug company having enough pull to make one of its products required is somewhat chilling, I’m glad they have backed off.

]]> By: thegameiam http://themoderatevoice.com/11048/an-update-on-the-gardasil-vaccine-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-54210 thegameiam Wed, 21 Feb 2007 16:10:53 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/business/an-update-on-the-gardasil-vaccine-controversy/#comment-54210 I think the vaccine is a great thing, and should be encouraged. However, the clinical trial size is simply too small to begin to reasonably talk about mandatory anything - let it run for 4 years and collect adverse events, and then we'll see whether mandatory makes any sense. I think the vaccine is a great thing, and should be encouraged. However, the clinical trial size is simply too small to begin to reasonably talk about mandatory anything – let it run for 4 years and collect adverse events, and then we’ll see whether mandatory makes any sense.

]]> By: C Stanley http://themoderatevoice.com/11048/an-update-on-the-gardasil-vaccine-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-54196 C Stanley Wed, 21 Feb 2007 15:39:16 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/business/an-update-on-the-gardasil-vaccine-controversy/#comment-54196 Also, epidemiologically it's not impossible that vaccinating all females would reduce the disease prevalance greatly or even come close to eradication; but I really don't know enough about transmission (male to male transmission through homosexual activity, for example) to know if that would be the case here. Also, epidemiologically it’s not impossible that vaccinating all females would reduce the disease prevalance greatly or even come close to eradication; but I really don’t know enough about transmission (male to male transmission through homosexual activity, for example) to know if that would be the case here.

]]> By: C Stanley http://themoderatevoice.com/11048/an-update-on-the-gardasil-vaccine-controversy/comment-page-1/#comment-54194 C Stanley Wed, 21 Feb 2007 15:36:58 +0000 http://themoderatevoice.com/business/an-update-on-the-gardasil-vaccine-controversy/#comment-54194 Shaun, While I think your point about vaccinating men is valid, it's not at all unusual for a pharmaceutical product to be brought to market for one particular population first. That allows the company to begin recouping costs while it is going through testing and approval process for other populations. And certainly putting this out for women first makes sense from economic and health perspectives because they are at highest risk for effects of the virus. Shaun,
While I think your point about vaccinating men is valid, it’s not at all unusual for a pharmaceutical product to be brought to market for one particular population first. That allows the company to begin recouping costs while it is going through testing and approval process for other populations. And certainly putting this out for women first makes sense from economic and health perspectives because they are at highest risk for effects of the virus.

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