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Gardasil and the GOP
NATIONAL REVIEW ONLINE ^ | September 13, 2011 | Henry I. Miller

Posted on 09/13/2011 2:48:19 PM PDT by neverdem

More than an hour into last night’s debate, Rep. Michele Bachmann attacked Gov. Rick Perry on the HPV vaccination controversy — or more accurately pseudo-controversy. It stems from an executive order issued by Perry in 2007 that required all Texas girls to receive Gardasil, a vaccine against the most common strains of human papilloma virus, before entering the sixth grade. However, Texas lawmakers blocked that mandate. Some critics argued that the vaccine was too new to have been confirmed safe, while others said that Perry’s order would preempt parental rights or give girls a false sense of security, possibly causing them to become sexually active at a young age.

Bachmann alluded to the Perry’s executive order mandating the exposure of young girls to a “dangerous” vaccine and tried to distinguish Gardasil from other required pediatric vaccines that prevent infectious diseases. Note to Bachmann: The vaccine, Merck’s Gardasil, prevents infection with the most common strains of human papilloma virus. Once established, these viruses can ultimately cause genital warts as well as cervical, anal, vulvar, and vaginal cancers. Thus, by preventing the infection, the vaccine prevents all those sequelae.

In the extensive clinical studies (on more than 20,000 girls and women) that were performed prior to the FDA’s licensing of the vaccine, the vaccine was 100 per cent effective, a virtually unprecedented result. How safe is the vaccine? No serious side effects were detected; the most common side effect is soreness, redness and swelling in the arm at the site of the injection.

In summary, Gardasil has one of the most favorable risk-benefit ratios of any pharmaceutical.

Having spent 15 years at the FDA and having seen regulation — the good, the bad and the ugly — up close, I am as opposed to anyone (exceptperhaps Ron Paul) to non-essential government intrusion into our lives. But some interventions are good. Among those I would include vaccination against childhood diseases and compulsory use of seat belts and motorcycle helmets.

I am discouraged by politicians who not only don’t know much about science, technology, or medicine (which is perhaps understandable) but also don’t know what they don’t know (which is unacceptable). 

Here’s my advice to the presidential hopefuls: If you’re not sure of the facts, keep quiet.

— Henry I. Miller, M.D., is Robert Wesson Fellow in Scientific Philosophy & Public Policy Hoover Institution.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Front Page News; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: 2012gopdebates; captaingardasil; cervicalcancer; fda; gardasil; health; hpv; medicine; noobamacare; noperrycare; norinos; noromneycare; vaccination; vaccine
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To: napscoordinator

Glad to hear somebody else who thought she did great. People just can’t deal with a real tough Conservative broad. She had Perry on the ropes there for a few minutes - enough to convince me he’s not all that strong a candidate - yet.

Personally, I loved the debate. With the exception of the exceedingly dull and plodding Romney, everyone on that stage had a real, live personality. It’s this kind of excitement that frightens the mandarins of both parties in Washington. My God, Gergen wet his pants because he got a few nasty tweets on his ipod!


141 posted on 09/13/2011 8:02:06 PM PDT by miss marmelstein (Run, Sarah, Run! Please!)
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To: hedgetrimmer; P-Marlowe; wmfights; Cincinatus' Wife

Any executive who doesn’t use give orders from the executive to his subordinates isn’t worth a roll of toilet paper.

That’s what executives do...issue orders. That’s why they’re flippin’ executives.

Now we got a bunch of legislator candidates who don’t have a clue what executives do, and it shows.

The problem is not with an executive being in charge...they’re supposed to be in charge...the problem is executives issuing BAD orders. Perry says he made a bad call. Fortunately for him it was stopped before it started.

Obama’s bad orders aren’t getting stopped.

But an executive who isn’t willing to lead isn’t worth spit.


142 posted on 09/13/2011 8:04:54 PM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! True Supporters of our Troops PRAY for their VICTORY!)
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To: xzins

It goes to Perry’s character as a decision-maker, and it does point to his Big Government solution to what should be a parent/child decision, and it does matter if there were ulterior motives in implementing this.


143 posted on 09/13/2011 8:05:52 PM PDT by Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears ("But resist, we much...we must...and we will much...about...that...be committed." - Al Sharpton)
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To: Polybius

I was a young adult in the 50’s and 60’s, and never did see the accusation that ‘The Unholy Three’ was being treated as a communist threat.

But fluoridating the drinking water supply was exposed not that long ago for being dangerous. People experiencing mottled and brown teeth. America has many fluoride sources, unfortunately, and we’re (not us) ingesting fluoride from a variety of them.

My question has always been “How many ounces of fluoridated water must a child of a certain age and weight, drink daily to thwart cavities???” And how do the parents see to this???!! That should end the debate right there!
I have never seen a recommended amount - have you???!
If one feels compelled to want fluoride for tooth protection, go have it directly applied.
Don’t force the rest of us to drink it from the public water supply. And wash cars, water lawns, subject birds to drinking from fluoridated water puddles, etc.!
A needless expense.

My dentist says the pro fluoridating-of-water- cavity studies were flawed. And he appeared before his city council with this information some years ago - before I was his patient.
I live in a different community, so was unaware of the city 25 miles away and its decision.
I believe they may have fluoridated anyway.
The suppliers of the source of fluoride (by-product of the aluminum industry) must be laughing their heads off every time they ‘sell’ a community.
(Excuse if I don’t use the correct form of ‘fluoride’).

As for polio currently, it is said the source of any polio these latter years is from the vaccine. Hate it when I see the local service club off again to some country distributing this vaccine.


144 posted on 09/13/2011 8:15:22 PM PDT by USARightSide
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To: Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears

The current understanding of HPV at the time of the decision was that it was communicable by more than just promiscuous sexual activity.

Therefore, his decision is understandable and defensible.


145 posted on 09/13/2011 8:15:28 PM PDT by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! True Supporters of our Troops PRAY for their VICTORY!)
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To: Polybius

Wow! Unlike a lot of folks on this thread, I have nothing against vaccines but your post is way over the top! You would think the streets were lined with women dropping dead from cervical cancer. Reminds me of the hysteria over second hand smoke and the gross-out tv commercials that go with it. And the hysterical AIDS crisis of the 1980s.

All this Bloombergian hypochondria that seems to me very un-conservative.


146 posted on 09/13/2011 8:15:28 PM PDT by miss marmelstein (Run, Sarah, Run! Please!)
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To: USARightSide

People in Florida have really bad teeth compared to people from Illinois and Missouri where flouride is abundant and also used in the water supply. Just an observation. Of course, it could also have to do with all the druggies in FL whose habits corrode their teeth and make them dumber than rocks in a box.


147 posted on 09/13/2011 8:29:19 PM PDT by piasa (Attitude adjustments offered here free of charge)
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To: xzins

A governor is supposed to GOVERN. He isn’t an ‘executive’ of a business. No business executive can ORDER people to take medicine. No governor can order people to take medicine, if you believe otherwise, then you believe we are all just subjects and not citizens with individual rights.

Remember the purpose of OUR government is above all , to protect our rights. You are completely and horribly wrong on this topic.


148 posted on 09/13/2011 8:38:20 PM PDT by hedgetrimmer
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To: miss marmelstein
All this Bloombergian hypochondria that seems to me very un-conservative.

Right on!
149 posted on 09/13/2011 8:39:56 PM PDT by hedgetrimmer
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To: hedgetrimmer

It is a cancer vaccine, bot a vaccine against STDs.


150 posted on 09/13/2011 8:40:53 PM PDT by RobbyS (Pray with the suffering souls.)
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To: neverdem

Bachmann and Santorium came across as shrill, vicious and uninformed on the topic of the HPV vaccine. Frankly they are both off my list as a potential VP candidate. Neither is electable for President. They did not change my mind about Perry. I have voted for him in 3 elections will do so again. He is the best GOP option to beat Obama.


151 posted on 09/13/2011 8:40:53 PM PDT by Grey Eagle
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To: brytlea
Not all insurance covers all vaccines. The CDC recommends certain vaccines to provide the best protection level or requirements for school. The State Legislature passes laws mandating what vaccines are needed. However, the parents always have an opt out of vaccines period! Sounds like people are simply not knowledgeable in this particular area.
152 posted on 09/13/2011 8:46:34 PM PDT by Grey Eagle
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To: brytlea

If a vaccine is not mandated, insurance companies will not pay for it. However, NOT ALL insurance companies pay for all vaccines, even mandated ones. This is the way the required vaccines for schools work as well.


153 posted on 09/13/2011 8:49:53 PM PDT by Grey Eagle
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To: donna

Yes, he stated in the GOP debate that he had handled the situation wrong.


154 posted on 09/13/2011 8:50:57 PM PDT by Grey Eagle
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To: RobbyS

It is a vaccine for a virus, HPV or human papillomavirus which is only transmitted through sexual contact.

It is not a ‘cancer vaccine’ because there is no such thing.
Vaccines are for viruses.


155 posted on 09/13/2011 9:36:20 PM PDT by hedgetrimmer
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To: brytlea

Right on!


156 posted on 09/13/2011 9:38:50 PM PDT by hedgetrimmer
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To: hedgetrimmer

If so then it differs little from polio/smallpox vaccines. The questions, in my mind, becomes, how widespread is it? What sort of contact? Can it be spread like HIV?


157 posted on 09/13/2011 9:53:44 PM PDT by RobbyS (Pray with the suffering souls.)
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To: Grey Eagle

Abort from the taboo aspect, opponents can reasonably ask: How widespread is it? So much that its requires state intervention? State intervention tends, paradoxically, to drive up costs.


158 posted on 09/13/2011 9:57:07 PM PDT by RobbyS (Pray with the suffering souls.)
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To: Grey Eagle
Yes, he stated in the GOP debate that he had handled the situation wrong.

Handled wrong, not was wrong. He'll do it again.

159 posted on 09/13/2011 10:29:18 PM PDT by donna (This is what happens when America is no longer a Christian nation.)
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To: editor-surveyor

It isn’t any easier to give equal attention to 8 grandkids than to 11!

If you still have young ones, stay close, because there’s a sort of ‘natural distance’ when they turn 16 or so - - maybe you know.

I know an 84 year old man who goes over to his daughter’s twice a week, for hours, to be with the 4 year old while Mom home schools.
They have a neat relationship, but his older grandkids (not the 4 year old’s siblings) not as much, because that’s what happens when they get older and want to be with their friends.
There’s a different kind of enjoyment with the older ones.

I hope this vaccine thing slowly goes away - it has consumed my entire Tuesday.


160 posted on 09/13/2011 10:38:12 PM PDT by USARightSide
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