HPV (Human Papillomavirus) Vaccine

The HPV vaccine is intended to prevent infection of Human Papillomavirus, which has been linked to cervical cancer.  The most widely used brand is Gardasil manufactured by Merck.  There are 150 strains of HPV, 14 of which are believed to be related to cancer. The Gardasil vaccine includes 9 of these strains.  Most HPV infections are transient and clear naturally, doing no harm.  

 In the U.S., a woman’s  risk of getting cervical cancer in her lifetime is approximately 0.63%.   Cervical cancer is easily caught in it's earliest and fully curable phase (pre-cancerous) with regular Pap smears.

Per the manufacturer's insert, the  risk of having a serious vaccine reaction is 2.3%, which is 365% higher than the risk of cervical cancer. Serious adverse reactions include loss of consciousness (syncope), seizures, pulmonary embolism, and autoimmune diseases.  In fact, loss of consciousness and seizures are so common that the insert warns doctors to observe patients for a minimum of 15 minutes after vaccination to prevent falls and injury.  

Moreover, the HPV vaccine has not been evaluated for effectiveness in actually preventing cervical cancer, as such a study would have to follow girls for at least 50 years after vaccination, and the vaccine has only been available since 2008.   In contrast, a  recent British study  actually reported a steep 54% rise in cervical cancer among 25-29 yr-olds, one of the very age groups that first received the vaccine. Thus, the jury is still out on whether HPV vaccination is truly effective.