For most kids, the summer holiday is now over and school is back in session. This can be a very exciting time for both kids and their parents. Back to school shopping for clothes, school supplies, a nice new haircut… these were all things I looked forward to as a kid when the new school year began. But one thing I didn’t look forward to is the required vaccinations for school enrollment here in the U.S. I can still remember getting those shots :(
Indeed, as the new 2017 school year rings in, many kids have already had to bear the required school vaccinations. But not all countries have mandated vaccinations for school enrollment. Ireland, for example, strongly advises them but parents are not required to vaccinate before enrolling their kids in school. Parental consent for kids 16 and under is required, however, before vaccinations are given.
One vaccine that is being heavily pushed in Ireland, as well as in the U.S. and other parts of the world, is Gardasil, the HPV vaccine. Thousands of girls starting their first year of secondary school in Ireland will be offered the vaccine.
Gardasil, which supposedly prevents cervical cancer, has stirred much controversy, particularly in Ireland. After taking Gardasil, nearly 650 girls required medical intervention in Ireland. These reports were made to the Health Products Regulatory Authority which not only monitors vaccines but medicines, medical devices, and other products like cosmetics available in Ireland.
A total of 1,099 reports have been submitted to the agency, with just under 60% of them classified as serious. Among these 648 cases, a patient needed assessment from a doctor and/or some type of treatment.
But are these numbers acceptable for the sake of trying to prevent cancer in women? The HPRA believes so.
In their eyes, most of the reports fall within their expectations. As one spokesperson of HPRA put it:
“The majority of reports we have received have been consistent with the expected pattern of adverse effects for the vaccine, as described in the currently approved product information.”
Kelly's Story - How Gardasil Affected Her
Kelly Power of Dublin was one of the casualties of Gardasil. Kelly's health quickly went downhill one month after taking it, leading her to became housebound. She says her severe back pain caused her to need to stay in bed for a year. Her diagnosis- degenerative disc disease. But Kelly also began experiencing other health problems, such as having trouble staying awake from extreme fatigue, depression, panic attacks, and hypothyroidism.
Is it just a coincidence that Kelly's health deteriorated after receiving Gardasil? Kelly and her mother firmly believe Gardasil is the cause of her severe decline in health.
But Kelly is not alone. She is just one of 400 Irish schoolgirls who have experienced chronic illnesses after taking Gardasil. Over 60 testimonies of Gardasil victims can be found at this link.
The Truth About the Gardasil Vaccine
There are no long-term studies that actually prove Gardasil can save lives. The vaccine is being heavily marketed that it can do just that, however, which is very misleading. Health authorities and the media continue to deny that people are suffering from Gardasil but people are speaking up and standing up to protect others from what they aren't aware could happen to them.
Furthermore, some argue that Gardasil is a completely unnecessary vaccine due to the nature of the HPV virus.
Facts about HPV:
"Most people infected with HPV will not develop a cancer related to the infection.” - Cancer.gov
“Usually, the body’s immune system gets rid of the HPV infection naturally within two years.” - The CDC
Regardless of what your stance is on vaccines, maybe we could at least agree that more investigation needs to be conducted to determine the safety of Gardasil. In my view, being “One Less” could also mean being one unlucky recipient of Gardasil but some people say, "Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater." Not everyone has a reaction or a health problem after taking Gardasil but do these unlucky few not deserve to be counted?
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .