Health Dept. cites protection offered by HPV immunization

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 7/30/15

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection, so common in fact that the majority of sexually active males and females is exposed to the virus at some point in their …

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Health Dept. cites protection offered by HPV immunization

Posted

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection, so common in fact that the majority of sexually active males and females is exposed to the virus at some point in their lives.

To help reduce the spread of the infection, which can lead to numerous other health concerns, the Department of Health (HEALTH) mandated last July that at the beginning of the 2015 school year all seventh graders will be required to have had at least one dose of the HPV vaccine, Gardisil or Cervarix, not without public apprehension though.

On Monday night, HEALTH met with individuals in opposition to the mandate, both sides sharing the pros and cons of the vaccine.

Although the virus will typically go away, sometimes without an individual ever experiencing symptoms, prolonged HPV can lead to genital warts as well as a slew of cancers, including penile, anal and throat cancer. HPV is also the leading cause of cervical cancer, the fourth deadliest cancer for women according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The CDC reports that cancers caused by HPV affect 17,500 women and 9,300 men every year.

The vaccine, which was approved in 2006, prevents against the most common strains of HPV and is given in three shots over a six-month period.

The CDC recommended in 2006 that all 11-12-year-old males and females receive the vaccine to protect against HPV and the warts and/or pre-cancers it can cause. In its clinical trials the vaccine was found to be nearly 100 percent protective against pre-cancers and genital warts. Also, according to the CDC, the vaccine has few side effects, typically only mild pain where the shot is given. Nine out of 10 people experience pain and only half experience redness around the injection.

Similarly, 1/10 people have a slight fever, where only 1/65 experiences a moderate fever after the shot. One in three people can have a headache after receiving the vaccine, but symptoms typically disappear a day or so after the injection.

Tricia Washburn, chief of the Office of Immunization for the Department of Health, explained in a phone interview Wednesday afternoon that after the Vaccine Advisory Committee, which is made up of doctors, nurses and other medical professionals, saw the positive research surrounding the vaccine, “they recognized the importance and the potential of reducing cancer with the vaccine.”

Although she said HEALTH recognizes a public’s concern, the CDC is expert in this type of research and “they have plenty of trials to prove the safety and effectiveness of the vaccine.”

Since first approved and recommended there has been a 56 percent decrease in HPV infections for teen girls across the United States.

Despite an apparent success rate there are also very low vaccinations rates. Only Virginia and Washington, D.C., and now Rhode Island, have mandates for the HPV vaccine more than eight years since the CDC recommendation.

In comparison to other vaccines, such as the hepatitis B and chickenpox vaccine, a Reuter’s study published July 15 says the HPV vaccine “lags well behind” in terms of acceptance and vaccination rates. After eight years the hepatitis B vaccine was required in 36 states and the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine was mandatory in 38 states.

Washburn believes social media and the availability of information and misinformation is causing the controversy around the vaccine, letting it fall behind in the timeline of other vaccines. She said people can find studies that will later be “debunked” or were conducted by less than reputable sources.

Some of the controversy also stems from the fact that such young students are required to have a perceived “STI preventative” shot when they shouldn’t be sexually active yet.

Washburn said the explanation for such an early measure is “twofold.” First, the vaccine is most effective when children are given the vaccine “well before any HPV exposure.” Similarly, studies have shown that children from 11-12 have the best immune response to the vaccine so it can provide “the optimal protection.”

Probably the most convincing argument came from Shayna Enos, 29, from Rehoboth, Massachusetts, who provided a first-hand account for possible side effects from the Gardisil vaccine.

In 2007 Enos received the first dose and a month later she began having extreme pain in her lower back. It became so bad she was hospitalized, without any real explanation from doctors. She finished her three doses of the HPV vaccine in September 2008 and her pain kept getting worse, and she hasn’t been free of it since.

“I wake up some days and I just can’t move at all the pain is so bad. It just stops your life completely; it’s utterly debilitating.”

The pain slowly moved from being localized in her lower back to affecting her hips, the entire right side of her back and her right shoulder. Now, Enos says the pain is slowly progressing to her left side.

“At my worst, you couldn’t hold a tissue to my back and I would start crying in pain.”

She was diagnosed with Allodynia, a condition that causes extreme sensitivity to touch often resulting in pain. Then in 2012 she was diagnosed with nueropathic pain syndrome, chronic fatigue syndrome, and has a compromised autoimmune system.

Since the pain began, Enos had to drop out of college, is unable to work, still lives at home with her parents, but has also gained weight and lost teeth from her medication intake.

No doctor was able to come up with a succinct explanation for her conditions, but Enos said she put the timeline together and suspected the Gardisil was the cause. She had difficulty finding any doctor that would take her case on and do the research into her theory.

“Doctors don’t want to admit it because they’d be going up against a billion dollar industry,” Enos said.

Only 2½ years ago did Enos have a pain specialist admit it could have been the vaccine, although she received no explanation as to why.

“Some people just can’t handle it,” Enos said. “My sister and friends all had them and they are all perfectly healthy. They are giving you a vaccine with part of a virus. It’s whether or not your body can take that.”

Today Enos says she is managing her pain as best as she can, and even at her best she is still on 15 different medications a day. She hopes one day to get back at work, something she desperately misses, but for now plans on speaking out more against the use of Gardisil, a vaccine she believes needs more study.

She had said yes automatically to receiving the vaccine because her gynecologist said it would help prevent cervical cancer that could leave her infertile. Because she had always longed to be a mother she never gave it a second thought.

She encourages people to look more into the research behind the vaccine “before they let their emotions get involved and take over.”

“I’m not a statistic on a sheet. I am a person. I could be your sister or daughter, and this is what they could go through because of the vaccine,” Enos said.

Joseph Wendelken, communications specialist for HEALTH, said the department could not speak directly to Enos’ case and they don’t negate her concerns. The CDC has “extensive monitoring programs” to look at the adverse effects of vaccines. Every report is “extensively” reviewed, researched and tested and that’s why they can have confidence in the CDC.

Despite opposition, HEALTH says the majority of the public is in favor of the vaccine, many families already having their children vaccinated.

Rhode Island has the highest vaccination rates for the HPV vaccine in the country and they are continuing to increase, Washburn said.

In 2013, 56 percent of all girls between 13-17 years of age had received all three doses of the vaccine and 76 percent had received at least one dose. In the same year, 69 percent of boys 13-17 had received one dose and 43 percent had received all the vaccinations.

Last year, Rhode Island was recognized as a national leader in child immunizations, having some of the highest recorded vaccination rates in the country.

In Rhode Island, children are required to have a variety of vaccinations before entering school and then periodically before the time they graduate.

Students in pre-K or child and day care centers need to have a flu shot every year, a hepatitis B vaccine, a DtaP (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis) vaccine that covers diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, Haemophilus influenzae type b vaccine measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine, pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, polio vaccine and the chickenpox vaccine. For kindergarten, students need a secondary vaccination for chickenpox, DtaP, MMR and polio. In 7th grade students are expected to receive the HPV, TdaP, meningococcal conjugate (meningitis) vaccines and 12th graders must receive a secondary meningococcal conjugate (meningitis) vaccine-booster dose.

The mandated HPV vaccine is planned to start passing in this fall with 7th graders receiving one dose. In fall of 2016 all 8th graders are expected to have two doses and by fall 2017 all 9th graders are expected to have three doses.

For a full list of required vaccination and doses visit HEALTH’s website at www.health.ri.gov.

Comments

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  • bcm151

    Shayna, I am so sorry for your pain and debilitating illness but I have to say has it been documented it is from the vaccine? As this is in the Warwick Beacon did you by chance grow up in Warwick? If so what neighborhood. I personally grew up in Lakewood & have lived in that neighborhood my entire life. I also have suffered from chronic Immune & AutoImmune issues since I was 18. Many of my childhood friends have also suffered similar issues. In this area of Warwick although I do think the airport neighborhood had more effects from airport contamination we have a double-edged attack, we were also exposed to contamination from Ciba Geigi, the chemical company that was on the Warwick / Cranston line. I am not saying the HPV vaccine is not the cause of your illness I am curious that there may not be other causes. I am a strong proponent of vaccines, I do not feel that the HPV vaccine should be mandated. HPV can only be spread through sexual contact, not just sitting next to a student who may have these illnesses. I pray you have improved health and find some relief of your symptoms.

    Thursday, July 30, 2015 Report this

  • lunacopia

    https://www.change.org/p/ri-department-of-health-eliminate-mandatory-hpv-vaccination-as-part-of-ri-public-or-private-school-entry

    This is the link to the online petition that as of midnight 7/31/15 has gathered over 1,000 signatures in just three days! Please copy and past into a new window, sign, and SHARE!

    Christine Horan Kellerman

    Rhode Islanders Against Mandatory HPV Vaccines

    Thursday, July 30, 2015 Report this

  • GinaBLemos

    Please watch the videos below. Parents really need to do their due diligence. I'm not "anti-vaccine" but I am PRO Safe Vaccine, and clearly these vaccines CAN cause harm to some children. I'm just not willing to play russian roulette with my child's life!

    https://youtu.be/hD5TnDtGKYw

    https://youtu.be/t5GquxhjDRY

    Friday, July 31, 2015 Report this

  • HerbTokerman

    It is absolutely ridiculous that they're requiring a vaccine with known extremely bad side effects to prevent STDs to go to school.

    May cause seizures, severe pain, losing the ability to walk or paralysis.

    In addition to the inability to have children in the future.

    Hopefully parents file a class action lawsuit against the department of health.

    There is no way I would willingly give my kid a dangerous vaccine to prevent a disease that can be prevented by behavior (i.e. wear a condom and don't sleep around with hoes or man-hoes)

    Saturday, August 1, 2015 Report this