December 04, 2007 12:00am
ALMOST 500 girls have had adverse reactions such as seizures, rashes and paralysis after taking cervical cancer vaccine Gardasil in Australia since it was released in April.
Of those, almost 200 Victorian schoolgirls were affected and 10 girls were admitted to hospital after fainting or collapsing following the jabs.
But leading experts defended the benefits of Gardasil and dismissed controversial reports of overseas deaths as unrelated and fictitious.
Doctors yesterday played down many side-effects as being unrelated, and said figures were low and what was expected in proportion to the number of doses dished out.
More than 13 million doses have been given worldwide.
Some 2.2 million Australian women have received the jab, with almost 500,000 in Victoria.
Gardasil guards against strains of the human papilloma virus that cause 70 per cent of cervical cancers, and is administered to girls under 18 through a national vaccination program.
As of November 30, there had been 496 adverse reaction reports to the Therapeutic Goods Association with the HPV vaccine as the sole suspected cause.
In the US more than 2220 reports were lodged in 12 months, including controversial reports of more than seven deaths.
But Gardasil co-creator Ian Frazer, the Health Department and manufacturer CSL yesterday dismissed allegations of associated deaths in the US, claiming the women died of unrelated causes.
Prof Frazer, a leading immunologist and former Australian of the Year, blamed anti-immunisation groups for exaggerating data as a scare tactic against inoculation.
Immunisation specialist Dr Jim Buttery, who works at the Royal Children's Hospital, declared Gardasil safe but said all reports were taken seriously.
Although the TGA refused to reveal detailed results, it said Gardasil was monitored by the US FDA and Centres for Disease Control, and in Australia by the Adverse Drug Reaction Advisory Committee, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation and the National Immunisation Committee.
The TGA's Dr Rohan Hammett said: "All . . . advised that current rates of adverse reactions are consistent with those expected with any vaccine."
It is TRUE that the adverse reactions are dangerous. Look up websites about this dangerous and unnecessary vaccination. Esp: mercola.com That is Dr Mercola
Posted by: Elizabeth of QLD 9:05am today
Im in my mid twenties, and having undergone surgery very recently for cervical cancer, I can say without a doubt that I would have prefered a bit of fainting or pain at the injection site rather than surgery!!
Posted by: Asterope of 7:58am today
About 48 hours after receiving the second vaccine, I experienced paralysis in my right arm and leg. it's been almost 4 days now, and I still don't have many sensations in my hand or foot, although I can walk slowly and do basic things, though they require much effort (even typing is mostly one handed). My work and regular life have suffered because of it, and I have hefty medical bills to pay.
Posted by: lauren rivera of Illinois, USA 7:03am today
Read all 9 commentsMichelle, I am concerned at the posssible future side effects of introducing this vaccine into our girls without one hundred percent testing, and not on mice! If in doubt..throw it out!
Posted by: Nathan of Friends With Cancer of 6:56am today
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