Opinions on Gardasil clash

By Emma Bailey, The Timaru Herald

Girls given the Gardasil HPV vaccine are at least 16 times more likely to have a serious adverse reaction to it than to develop terminal cervical cancer, which critics say raises doubts about the increasingly controversial vaccine.

Information obtained by the Timaru Herald under the Official Information Act shows the death rate for cervical cancer between 2002 and 2005 was 1.95 deaths per 100,000 women.

This compares with 31 serious adverse reactions for the 90,000 girls who have been vaccinated with Gardasil so far.

The reactions being investigated include the death of an 18-year-old woman in September 2009, and reports of epilepsy, Bells Palsy and collapses.

Timaru mother Julie Smith, who created website offtheradar.co.nz after researching Gardasil, said the figures supported her call to have the vaccine withdrawn.

“Parents are not being made aware [of facts about Gardasil] and certainly not by the Ministry [of Health].”

Health Minister Tony Ryall responded briefly to the Herald last night, saying he was advised the Ministry of Health did not have any concerns about the vaccine’s safety or effectiveness.

Mrs Smith said the ministry would had been aware of the figures.

“Their main concern cannot be our girls in New Zealand.”

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