A couple of links

[sarahmichigan]

SYLVIA BROWNE IS A BIG FAT FRAUD

Have you read recently in the news about that boy who was kidnapped and found alive many years later? Sylvia Browne, supposed psychic, not only told his parents he was kidnapped by a Hispanic with dreadlocks (which also makes her a racist bitch) but that Shawn was dead. He turned out to be alive and was kidnapped by a white dude, no dreadlocks...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dw_7sMKR8jo

TEXAS MANDATES HPV VACCINE-- HOORAY!

http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-vaccine3feb03,1,2886229.story?coll=la-news-a_section

This is a great first step to reducing the occurrences of cervical cancer. I'm surprised that Texas, not known to be a bastion of liberal thinking, is doing this, but I'm glad they're standing up to fundies who think it'll encourage unsafe sex and the crazies who think that vaccines cause autism.

I'm not a fan of Big Pharma, but just because they'll profit doesn't make this a bad decision. Vaccines-- in general, not this one specifically-- are a blessing. If your kid has an allergy to an ingredient in a vaccine, it's one thing to ask for an exemption in one particular case. But wide-spread fear-mongering about the supposed dangers to the average child from vaccination is EVIL. People who refuse to vaccinate their kids for no legitimate medical reason should be investigated for child abuse and neglect. I am completely serious.

Comments

[melstav]

I'm waiting for it to be cleared approved for use in men. Sure, we don't have to worry about cervical cancer (not having a cervix) but we can still carry the virus, and pass it on to others. Stopping the spread of HPV shouldn't be the sole responsibility of women.

I don't know that I necessarily agree with making it mandatory for school enrollment, either. HPV isn't like Measles, Mumps, or Meningitis. The whole point of mandatory vaccinations is to prevent an epidemic spread of disease in the school. HPV is spread primarily through sexual contact, unlike those other viruses. I'm not saying that I don't think it's a good idea to give the vaccine to our children, because I do.

Having spent a summer working for one of the Big Pharma, and having spent a fair amount of time over the last year, digging through FDA regs, I've developed an appreciation of the absolutely ludicrous amount of money involved in developing a new drug or a new piece of diagnostic equipment, and getting it approved for use in the United States.

[meecie.livejournal.com]

Right now, I can't even get the HPV vaccine, and not for lack of trying. My health care system will *only* approve it for girls and women under the age of 26.

[melstav]

That's because the original clinical trials Merck submitted to the FDA only included female participants age 26 and under. Since that's the only population that the FDA has "safety and effectiveness" data for, those are the only people the FDA has said it is allowed to be prescribed for.

This Fox news article points out that Merck is currently in the middle of clinical trials with women over 26 and boys.

[meecie.livejournal.com]

"Since that's the only population that the FDA has "safety and effectiveness" data for, those are the only people the FDA has said it is allowed to be prescribed for."

Not necessarily. Drugs are prescribed "off label" all the time. My clinic has just said, since they have a limited supply, they're giving it all to younger women/girls. I don't necessarily object to that in theory. It's more a matter of "I don't want cervical cancer, dammit. Give me my shot!" (me, me, it's all about me!)