Health officer refutes coverage of HPV vaccine

TORONTO — Canada's chief public health officer took issue on Friday with a Maclean's magazine cover story that suggested adoption of a new vaccine against human papillomavirus -- or HPV -- was making "guinea pigs" out of Canadian girls.

The five-page article, headlined "Our Girls Aren't Guinea Pigs," raises alarm about the safety of the HPV vaccine Gardasil, questioning whether the soon-to-start inoculation programs in several provinces amount to an experiment on a generation of pre-teen and teenage girls.

Dr. David Butler-Jones strenuously objected to the article, saying federal, provincial and territorial public health leaders -- who universally support the adoption of the vaccine -- would never endorse a preventive health measure thought to be of questionable safety.

"To suggest this is some grand experiment is inappropriate," Butler-Jones said in an interview from Saskatchewan.

"There's no way that we would support that kind of thing. You don't do that. It's totally unethical."

Senior editors of the magazine were not immediately available for comment on Friday.

Butler-Jones, who heads the Public Health Agency of Canada, wrote a letter to the editor of the magazine complaining about the article. A press release on the letter is posted on agency's website.

The Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health -- the group representing provincial and territorial chief medical officers -- was considering similar action, confirmed Dr. Perry Kendall, medical officer for British Columbia.

Kendall said in an e-mail that he was concerned about what he termed the alarmist tone of the article.

The HPV vaccine protects against infection by four strains of human papillomavirus, two of which are responsible for 70 per cent of cervical cancers. The other two strains in the vaccine protect against genital warts.)

Butler-Jones said the decision to move ahead with the HPV vaccine was based on science. And he noted that other countries, including Australia, have also adopted the vaccine.

"The suggestion that basically public health officials, obstetricians and gynecologists and all of those that have reviewed the evidence -- including independent bodies and those charged with the care of women as well as those charged with the health of the public -- would somehow promote a vaccine as an experiment on young women or anyone is somewhat offensive," he said.

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Susan Fletcher
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It's high time health and government officials were held accountable for their drug-induced decisions. Thanks, Macleans!!!
Neither Gardasil, Cervarix or any other vaccine that comes down the pike is likely to prevent cervical cancer. Like most disease, cc is just an expression of the overall ill health of our planet; heal the planet, heal disease - let's get serious about improving our health by getting rid of toxins including vaccines and ego-centric health agendas foisted upon the uninformed masses.

mary Davis
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I'm glad this vaccine is being debated publicly. I hope that the debate about the link between autism and thimerosal (a mercury-based preservative still found in the flu-shot and in Hep B vaccines) also becomes as public. Autism rates are skyrocketing as are the number of vaccines given to children. This should be of enormous concern and should be rigorously debated now.

Mike
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FYI: In Canada NONE of the immunizations are mandatory.

Nathan
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I think we need to ask why Maclean's would make an arguement like this against a vaccine which has in fact been tested and certified for use throughout the world. Is it to protect people from possible health concerns? Possibly, but the attack seems quite in keeping with right wing agenda of Maclean's/National Post. I don't think its a surprise that some conservatives have been opposing this vaccine and now a conservative magazine is attacking it.

Adam
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Well said, sometimes fearmongering is just that... Other times, it is justified. I have not read the article in question, but what if this gets recalled in 5-10 years... And for most of that it is a mandatory innoculation. What if the side effects overtime involve birthdefects in the next gen? How many lives would be affected?

For clarification, if someone knows: Will it be mandatory like many other innoculations?

alex
said
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Hmmm,now here's a thought. Based on the sum total, albeit limited information I've obtained on this subject; seems to me this whole "experiment" is simply a way for our politicians to invite their pharmaceutical friends to the public purse trough. It's just a thought....

Henry Wysmulek
said
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Canadians used as Guinea Pigs, Big Surprise!

The Liberal Government allowed Genetically Modified Foods to be consumed in Canada for around 5 years before anyone in Canada was aware that we were consuming them!

And don't forget the LSD experiments a few decades back.

The scary part is that these are the ones that we actually do find out about.

M.S.Blanchette
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Bravo Maclean's magazine for having the courage to present this story! So our high-faluting "experks" have their collective noses out of joint, so what! They're making the big bucks so let'm squirm! It's their own damn fault for having their accountants make the decisions when it should be their consciences. They've created their long history of "buck trumping ethics" themselves; epic blunders that continue to happen and which we usually learn about when it's too late! Can you say blood scandal?

Rita Hoffman
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BRAVO to Maclean's! Butler-Jones response did not refute one fact that was written in their article.
The Toronto Star reported on the 16th
(Lobbyists boosted vaccine program):
"Merck Frosst Canada Ltd., the maker of Gardasil, hired public relations giant Hill & Knowlton to push the immunization strategies using some well-connected lobbyists: Ken Boessenkool, a former senior policy adviser to Prime Minister Stephen Harper; Bob Lopinski, formerly with Premier Dalton McGuinty's office; and Jason Grier, former chief of staff to Health Minister George Smitherman. According to Ontario consultant registration documents, Lopinski and Grier's lobbying activities include: 'Proposed policy decision to support a childhood immunization program for HPV and funding related thereto."

There should be an immediate independent investigation into conflict of interest at all levels of vaccine approval and introduction in this country.

dawn
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Because you says it's safe, it must be true? gee. let's see. can you say thalidomide?

assurances and indignation are not enough
said
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First off, all these health professionals are reviewing the SAME evidence. There was a recent change in attitude on blood pressure medication that was found not to have any beneficial impact on blood pressure but did carry several serious side effects. The medication was widely prescribed by doctors across the country. So spare me the indignation, this is only one recall, there have been several arthritis medications that have also been tossed in the last few years.

Not every woman gets cervical cancer, even though she's had an HPV. It�s the same with mammograms for breast cancer; they rarely ever tell women that it involves exposure to a massive amount of radiation.

The medical community is irresponsible in their use and promotion of new technologies and medications, don't forget, many in the medical profession are still learning to wash their hands! We have a responsibility to question the professionals and think for ourselves, particularly when it comes to our children's well being.

Imre Attila Janos Torma
said
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Has this vaccine been in use for the last 10 years with supporting data? How many drugs have been pulled in the last two years that the "experts" classed as safe only to have them removed from Pharmacy shelves because of "new" data and alarming side effects not anticipated.

Until our government can show that they have their own scientific analysis of these drugs and they can be held responsible for ANY side effect then maybe it may be a good thing. Until then say no to the unknown!!

P. Potter
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It's a shame that what was once proudly considered as Canada's own current affairs magazine has now become joke. From the seriously flawed post-secondary school rankings to this misinformed article on vaccines, one has to wonder how the writers at Maclean's goes about gathering research for the articles they write .

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News release: Canada's Chief Public Health Officer refutes Maclean's article on HPV vaccine

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