Do YOU know what's wrong with Jenny?

I had not researched Gardasil before my daughter my ten year old daughter went in for a routine physical. Our family doctor asked me if I wanted her to receive it, and I thought it sounded great.  It was pretty traumatic for her(painful) and half an hour after getting it she felt so weak and dizzy, she needed me to help her to the car. Almost a month later she still complains of fatigue, and has complained of feeling tootired to do normal things she always does like swim, ride her bike, or even go up our two flights of stairs. I have just been dismissing it, but after now researching may take her in for a check-up.

I've been on the fence with the Gardasil vaccine for awhile now. My GP wanted me to vaccinate my nine year old. I held off.

Now, with Jenny's story and related links under my belt, I'm not going to have my children exposed to such a new drug. (We also opted not to have the chicken pox vax for the same reason.) I'm not opposed to vaccines in general, but I do feel wary of new medications. It's not uncommon for pharmaceuticul companies to 'prove' a drug is safe, only to find out it has unsafe side effects or is less effective than was initially stated. I'm very disturbed that some school districts are considering making this vax required For instance, I was recently prescribed a drug for migraines by a headache specialist, only to find out later that it was causing deaths in people who were not on similar drugs previously! 

I am disturbed that the HPV/Gardasil vax is under consideration as a 'mandatory' vax for Jr. High students. Hopefully, there will be an opt out of some sort. In Seattle there are 'required' vaccines for school enrollment, but if you are opposed to vaccines in you can opt out. I don't think the government should be in the business of forcing parents to give their children medications.

Rachelle Mee-Chapman
http://www.magpie-girl.com ( http://www.magpie-girl.com/ )
http://twitter.com/magpiegirl

Neither of my girls will be recieving that vaccine, for many of the reasons listed above.

- Maria

immoralmatriarch.com

We thought our son was going to need ADHD medication and found that by giving him Threelac (a pro-biotic) we got our "normal" son back. I know there are some other natural treatments parents of children that have autism and other disorders they feel were the result of vaccines are doing with success.Here's what I've heard of...

http://www.evenbetternow.com/als.asp 

I'm on the fence as to whether or not the vaccine is a good idea.  In theory, it is.  In practice, it could be potentially disastrous, especially for indiviudals with any type of genetic predisposition to disease (which is a TON of us, myself included).  Knowing what I know now, I do not think I would have been a candidate for the vaccination because I have autoimmune diseases in my family, have allergies myself, and frankly, this is enough of a warning to warrant my avoidance. 

Having FDA approval sure sounds good, but it has the potential to mean absolutely nothing.  I've spoken before the FDA, to a panel of 12, where 6 had vested interests in a medical device being approved; I know first hand, what it feels like to have your message fall on deaf ears.  No matter what I said, half of the crowd had already made up their mind.  Do not think for a second that money doesn't affect FDA decisions.  Big Pharma is up in their ears, dangling their pocketbooks, and FDA officials are heeding their advice.  It is sad when the best information we have often comes from the media and the Internet.

I wish Jenny and her family the best of luck.

~Kacey ( http://www.beautyandthebreast.org )

Lisa Stone
BlogHer Co-founder ( http://blogher.org/member/lisa-stone )
Surfette ( http://surfette.typepad.com )

The decision to vaccinate is never easy. I would encourage everyone to also take a look at Planned Parenthood

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/issues-action/std... ( http://www.plannedparenthood.org/issues-action/std... )

who says

"Worldwide, cervical cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer deaths among women — and certain kinds of human papilloma virus (HPV) are the cause. In the United States, approximately 11,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer annually, and more than 3,500 of them die each year.

The best way to prevent cervical cancer is to make sure that young women have access to the HPV vaccine, which protects them against four kinds of HPV, and to make sure all women get regular Pap tests.

Approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2006, the HPV vaccine is a major breakthrough and a vital weapon in the fight against cancer. Along with regular testing, early detection, and treatment, the vaccine offers the chance to end cervical cancer around the globe. Yet extremist opponents of condoms and other contraceptives, and other health protections for women are trying to erect barriers so women can’t access this life-saving advance."

and from the CDC http://www.cdc.gov/std/Hpv/STDFact-HPV-vaccine.htm...

"This vaccine has been licensed by the FDA and approved by CDC as safe and effective. It was studied in thousands of females (ages 9 through 26 years) around the world and its safety continues to be monitored by CDC and the FDA. Studies have found no serious side effects. The most common side effect is soreness in the arm (where the shot is given). There have recently been some reports of fainting in teens after they got the vaccine. For this reason, it is recommended that patients wait in their doctor’s office for 15 minutes after getting the vaccine."

Politics & News Contributing Editor
Queen of Spain ( http://queenofspainblog.com/ )

My heart goes out to Jenny and her family and I hope they are able to find the answers they are searching for.

I totally agree with Rita. There will be NO HPV vax for my daughter either for the reasons Rita mentioned and because I feel this vax is just another ploy by big pharmaceutical cos. to make money. From what I've read, I've learned it's a very expensive vaccine ($300-$500 total per person) requiring three doses for complete effectiveness and an unknown number of boosters every few years. No wonder Merck wants it to be government-mandated. Thankfully here in CO the bill to mandate it was shot down. Although even if it were mandated, parents always have the right to refuse ANY vaccine. (State exemptions [for medical, religious or philisophical reasons]: http://www.909shot.com/state-site/state-exemptions...

Amy
Crunchy Domestic Goddess ( http://crunchydomesticgoddess.com )
BlogHers Act contributing editor ( http://www.blogher.com/special-events/bloghers-act )

This is a horrifying scenario, and I hope we as a blogosphere are able to help Jenny zero in on what exactly is wrong with her.

Whether her condition was caused by the HPV vaccine or not, I won't be vaccinating my daughter.  HPV is very common, and most of the strains don't cause cervical cancer.  I do intend to teach her about Pap smears and HPV tests, but I feel the vaccine uses a sledgehammer to drive in a tack.  Plus, I don't like to monkey around with drugs that haven't been in the market for at least ten years, not even with myself, let alone my healthy little daughter.  Just my two cents.

Surrender, Dorothy ( http://surrenderdorothy.typepad.com )- When I was your age, we just let them ride in the back window.

Rita Arens is a contributing editor for BlogHer -- Mommy & Family.