index

HPV also known as the Human Papillomavirus is a virus that affects 75 to 80% of males and females (5). HPV can

cause cervical, vaginal and vulvar cancers in females and also genital warts in both males and females (5). Each day, in

the United States 30 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer (5). That means, 11,000 women a year are diagnosed

with this type of cancer (5). Also, 11 women die from it every year (5). Each minute, it is estimated that there is a new

case of genital warts (5). About 2 out of 3 will get genital warts after having any kind of genital contact with someone

who is infected (5). There are about 30-40 types of HPV (5). Types 16 and 18 cause about 75% of cervical cancer cases

(5). Types 6 and 11 cause about 90% of genital warts cases (5). HPV transmission can happen with any kind of genital

contact with anyone who is infected (5). Many people who have HPV are sometimes not even aware that they have it

(5). The virus can show no signs of symptoms (9). There are 6 million new cases of HPV in the United States every year

and 74% occur in 15-24 year olds (5). . Condoms bring therisk of getting HPV down, but is not 100% effective (9). Also

another way to prevent from getting HPV, is to limit your number of sexual partners. HPV is the most common sexual

transmitted disease in the world and it affects over 75% ofpeople between the ages of 15 and 49 (9). It is estimated that

6.2 millions people per year become infected with HPV (9). Apap smear or also known as a pap test is a test that checks

for changes in the cells of a womans cervix. The test can tell if a woman has an infection, abnormal cervical cells or

cervical cancer. It can find the earliest signs of cervical cancer. Getting a routine pap test is the best thing a woman can

do to prevent getting cervical cancer. For men, there is no testfor HPV. Men have to be more protective and cautious

because there is no way of actually clarifying if they have been exposed to HPV. HPV can be treated but cannot be

cured. Scientists at Merck & Co. developed an HPV vaccine known as Gardasil to prevent an infenction.

A woman by the name of Michelle Whitlock's nightmare began in December 2001. After a normal papsmere and HPV

test her doctor told her test results came back for high risk HPV. Additional tests were given and she came back positive

for cervical cancer. The reccomended treatment for her cervical cancer was a radical hysterectomy, which would leave

her sterile meaning she is unable to become pregnant. After the treatment the cancer had come back three years later

and it has spread 50% through her uterine wall. She immedietly began five weeks of radiation and six weeks of

chemotherapy. She developed long term side effects such as; sexual-dysfunction, infertility, and damaged self-image

but she made it through this (11).

Michelle Whitlock In The Media

Merck

Merck & Company INC. is a company that discovers new therapies that treat and prevent diseases to help those in

need. They are committed to improve health and well-being (7). Their vision is to make a difference in the lives of

people through their medicines, vaccines, biological therapies, and consumer health and animal products (7). Merck &

Co. created what is known as the Gardasil Vaccine. Merck is also committed to providing vaccinations to people who are

uninsured or who cannot afford it. Merck was the first company to create and patent a vaccine for HPV (7).

Gardasil is a vaccine that is given to girls and women from ages 9-26 to help prevent HPV (5). It also helps prevent,

cervical cancer, vulvar and vaginal cancers, anal cancers, and genital warts (5). It is also given to boys and men ages

9-26 to help prevent them from getting HPV and from getting anal cancer and genital warts (5). Gardasil is given in the

arm muscle in 3 different shots. Dose 1 is given on any date that is chosen. Dose 2 is given 2 months after dose 1 and

dose 3 is given 6 months after dose 2 (5). Some side effects of Gardasil are pain, swelling, itching, bruising, and redness

at the injection spot, headache, fever, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and fainting (5). The vaccine is made with a highly

purified protein taken from actual HPV types. This vaccine is only a recombinant vaccine, which means that is made

from genetically engineered material taken from HPV and does not contain the actual live virus (10). The FDA claims

that since it only contains a protein of the virus the patient receiving the vaccine will not actually develop the infection

(10). Gardasil works by putting itself together into virus-like particles similar to actual HPV particles (10). It's purpose is

to trigger an antibody reaction to protect the patient with being infected with the virus (10). Howerver, Gardasil only

protects against 4types of HPV. It does not help fight a pre-exisiting infection it can actually make the symptoms worse

(10). Women whoalready have HPV and receive the Gardasil shot, can suffer massive outbreaks of genital warts or

abnormal precancerous lesions, which both require extensive treatment (10). Gardasil was approved by the FDA in 2006

and is now used more and more each year. The Director for the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, Dr.

Jesse Goodman said that Gardasil was a huge advance (10).

Gardasil Vaccine Commercial

In 2007, Texas Governor Rick Perry issued an order making Texas the first state that requires schoolgirls starting in

sixth grade, to receive the Gardasil shot (4). He also directed state health authorities to make the vaccine free to girls’

ages 9-18 that are uninsured or whose insurance will not cover vaccinations (4). Rick Perry said, “The HPV vaccine

provides us with an incredible opportunity to effectively target and prevent cervical cancer" (4). He also received a

$5000 contributionfor his campaign from Merck & Company (2). Majority of mothers were opposed to forcing their

child to receive the vaccine and tried to fight against it. They argued that requiring vaccinations upon entering schools

violates parental authority over health care for their children and will send a message that sex is okay. On March 14

and April 23, 2007 the Texas House and Senate passed what is known as HB 1098. HB 1098 repealed Rick Perry’s

executive order requiring Gardasil. It said, “An immunization against human papillomavirus is not required for a

person’s admission to any elementary or secondary school,” (HB 1098).

Texas Mandate on MSNBC

Political Cartoon

    A woman by the name of Michele Bachmann criticized Rick Perry for issuing the mandate that required girls the get

the HPV vaccine (2). On The Today Show, she said she was approached by a woman at the debate, whose daughter

received the Gardasil vaccine and claims her daughter is now suffering from mental retardation due to the vaccines side

effects (3). However, it is clearly not true that the Gardasil vaccines side effects causes mental retardation.

Michele Bachmann at the Presidential Debate

    On October 25, 2011 the committee of immunization practices of the center for disease control and prevention

announced that boys and young men should receive the HPV vaccine to help prevent anal and throat cancers (12). A new

trial finds that the Gardasil vaccine can help protect men against HPV as effectively as it does women. (12) The new

study, funded by Merck, studied 4,065 sexually active young men ages 16 to 26 from 18 different countries who were

HPV free (12). The participants were followed for two to three years. The study found that those who received Gardasil

were 65.5% less likely to develop genital warts (12). The committee recommended that boys ages 11 and 12 receive the

vaccine. Also, it isrecommended that boys and men ages 13 through 21 should be vaccinated if not done so already.

       In an article published on October 21, 2011 by the Corruption Chronicles it is stated that in a few months 12 year oldsin the United States are going to be able to receive the Gardasil vaccine without parental consent.
        In May 2007, Judical Watch submitted a request to the FDA concerning Merck's Gardasil Vaccine. The Analysis of the record shows;

Gardasil wil not prevent any exisitng HPV infections and it is not a cancer vaccine or a cure (10).

Gardasil is not 100% effective against all HPV. It is created and designed to protect against only four types of HPV, however there are over 30 strains of HPV and atleast 15 can cause cancer (10).

Gardasil's longterm effectiveness is unkown and could be as brief as two to three years (10).

In our generation kids are having more and more unprotected sex. They are being careless when it comes to using

condoms. This means that more people especially teenagers will receive HPV and have a higher risk of getting cancer

and genital warts. The biggest reccomendation would to be get teenagers vaccinated, both boys and girls. This is the

safest way.

In my own opinion, I believe every child, boy or girl who is sexually active should receive the Gardasil vaccine. If they

are 16 years of age and older, whether they are sexually active or not, they should still receive the Gardasil vaccine. It's

better to be safe rather than sorry. HPV is a very scary infection; it can cause many other sexually transmitted diseases

and cancers. I personally got the Gardasil shot and so did my brothers only to be safe. I would rather be protected, even

if the vaccine is not a hundred percent effective, it gives a person hope that HPV can be prevented. The vaccine prevents

70% of vaginal cancers, I can speak for everybody when I say, no one wants cancer. The vaccine does exactly what

everyone wants, prevents cancer. There is no cure for HPV infections, so why not be more safe and get the vaccine.

Gardasil also prevents 90% of genital warts cases. It is said that a person will be exposed to HPV at least once in their

lifetime. If that person wants to prevent the exposure taking it to the next level then I suggest the Gardasil vaccine. I

beleive it was wrong of Rick Perry to issue a mandate forcing young school girls to receive the vaccine, however I do

beleive it was necessary. If you take a look at our generation, kids are becoming sexually active at younger ages. Parents

should put the vaccine into consideration for their child sooner rather than later, because you never know when your

child could be exposed to HPV. I personally know a few people who have become sexually active at a very young age. I

also know people who have sexually transmitted diseases, especially HPV. It is not uncommon for someone to meet

another who has HPV or who has been exposed to HPV. All they can do now is the treatment required for their strain of

HPV or the disease that they got from the infection. If they got the Gardasil vaccine then maybe they would have been

protected against the HPV strain that they received from their sexual partner. Sex is enjoyable but dangerous. HPV is

dangerous.

By Adrienne Branch
Sociology
Griswold

Sources

1. Hughes, S. (2011, september 14). Michele bachmann's hpv claims just latest in gardasil debate. Washington Post. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/michele-bachmanns-hpv-claims-just-latest-in-gardasil-debate/2011/09/14/gIQA9FjESK_blog.html

2. Michele bachmann slams rick perry on gardasil during cnn/tea party debate [Web]. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIC_vc8YOj4

3. Michele bachmann: gardasil causes mental retardation [Web]. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWTY0vrG2NU

4. Texas governor orders std vaccine for all girls. (2007, February 03). MSNBC. Retrieved from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/16948093/ns/health-childrens_health/t/texas-governor-orders-std-vaccine-all-girls/

5. Gardasil. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.gardasil.com/what-is-gardasil/index.html?WT.mc_id=GL0ES&MTD=2

6. Patient information about gardasil. (2011, April). Retrieved from http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/g/gardasil/gardasil_ppi.pdf

7. Merck. (2011). Retrieved from http://www.merck.com/index.html

8. Controversies associated with rick perry. (2007). The Political Guide. Retrieved from http://www.thepoliticalguide.com/rep_bios.php?rep_id=56615334&category=scandals&id=1219506227230808

9. Adrienne Branch. Interview with DR. Frank Sinatra’s office. Monday, October 3, 2011.

10. "Examining The FDA's HPV Vaccine Records." Judicial Watch. 30 June 2008. Web. 8 Dec. 2011. <http://www.judicialwatch.org/documents/2008/JWReportFDAhpvVaccineRecords.pdf>.

11. Whitlock, Michelle. Michelle Whitlock - Advocate, Author, Motivational Speaker, Survivor... Web. 15 Dec. 2011. <http://www.michelleleewhitlock.com/>.

12. Press, The Associated. "Merck's Gardasil Vaccine Recommended for Boys in HPV Prevention | NJ.com." New Jersey Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - NJ.com. Web. 15 Dec. 2011. <http://www.nj.com/business/index.ssf/2011/10/mercks_gardasil_vaccine_recomm.html>.