| Merck Suspends Lobbying for HPV Vaccine Mandate |
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TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- Merck & Co., bowing to pressure from parents and medical groups, is immediately suspending its lobbying campaign to persuade state legislatures to mandate that adolescent girls get the company's new vaccine against cervical  Cancer as a requirement for school attendance.
Tuesday February 20, 11:32 pm ET Some had objected because the vaccine protects against a sexually transmitted disease, human papilloma virus, which causes cervical cancer. Vaccines mandated for school attendance usually are for diseases easily spread through casual contact, such as measles and mumps. "Our goal is about cervical cancer prevention and we want to reach as many females as possible with Gardasil," Dr. Richard M. Haupt, Merck's medical director for vaccines, told The Associated Press. "We're concerned that our role in supporting school requirements is a distraction from that goal, and as such have suspended our lobbying efforts," Haupt said, adding the company will continue providing information about the vaccine if requested by government officials. Whitehouse Station-based Merck launched Gardasil, the first vaccine to prevent cervical cancer, in June. It protects against the two virus strains that cause 70 percent of cervical cancer and two strains that cause most genital warts. Sales totaled $235 million through the end of 2006, according to Merck. Last month, the AP reported that Merck was channeling money for its state-mandate campaign through Women in Government, an advocacy group made up of female state legislators across the country. Conservative groups opposed the campaign, saying it would encourage premarital sex, and parents' rights groups said it interfered with their control over their children. Even two of the prominent medical groups that supported broad use of the vaccine, the American Academy of Pediatricians and the American Academy of Family Practitioners, questioned Merck's timing, Haupt said Tuesday. "They, along with some other folks in the public health community, believe there needs to be more time," he said, to ensure government funding for the vaccine for uninsured girls is in place and that families and government officials have enough information about it. Legislatures in roughly 20 states have introduced measures that would mandate girls have the vaccine to attend school, but none has passed so far. However, Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Feb. 2 issued an executive order requiring Texas girls entering the sixth Parents in Texas could opt out for their daughters if they state religious or philosophical objections, but several lawmakers there want parents to opt in instead of being able to opt out. Perry defended his order Tuesday, a day after lawmakers in Austin held a lengthy hearing on the issue but failed to act on a bill to override the order. Dr. Anne Francis, who chairs an American Academy of Pediatrics committee that advocates for better insurer reimbursement on vaccines, called Merck's change of heart "a good move for the public." "I believe that their timing was a little bit premature," she said, "so soon after (Gardasil's) release, before we have a picture of whether there are going to be any untoward side effects." Given that the country has been "burned" by some drugs whose serious side effects emerged only after they were in wide use, including Merck's withdrawn painkiller Vioxx, Francis said, it would be better to wait awhile before mandating Gardasil usage. She said she also was concerned about requiring a vaccine for a disease that is not communicable and so does not have a big public health impact. While doctors expect Gardasil to have a huge effect in poor countries where women do not get Pap smears, in this country those tests limit the The National Vaccine Information Center has been publicizing reports of side effects -- mostly dizziness and fainting -- in several dozen people getting Gardasil, which is approved for use in females ages 9 to 26. The center, a group of parents worried that vaccines harm some children, questions whether the vaccine was tested in enough young girls. Officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, however, say that reports of side effects through the end of January don't raise any red flags. The vaccine also is controversial because of its price -- $360 for the three doses required over a six-month stretch. Because of that cost and what pediatricians and gynecologists say is inadequate reimbursement by insurers, many are choosing not to stock the vaccine or requiring surcharges to administer it, increasing the cost for many families and making the vaccine hard to come by.            |
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| Last Updated ( Tuesday, 20 February 2007 ) | |||
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Removing ovaries to be safe - good idea????
-3:00 - 20.11.2008
Dear AllA while ago I posted asking if US could DX ovca at early stage, and got SO MANY wonderful replies, for which I was extremely grateful.I've now gone on to have some investigative work done, and a detailed TVS has shown that I have a cyst on my right ovary which is not functional, but is almost 50:50 either benign or borderline.There doesn't seem to be any invasion of the ovary tissue from the cyst, and it is poorly vascularised, both of which I believe are optimistic signs. I read (on an Internet search) that around 7% of borderline cysts progress to becoming malignant. However, because my husband has Stage IV kidney cancer and 'staying alive' is, right now, our main concern (!!!!), I am thinking of simply having a double oophrenectomy (sp?!) (I'm 55, and my bloods show I'm now perimenopausal, so my ovaries are due for retirement anyway!), and being done with it (I hope....!) I'm not clear whether suregery would include the fallopian tubes as well. Everything else in my pelvis is showing OK, so far as I understand. (Plus, no family history of ovca etc)Has anyone else been in a similar situation, and what was your decision, and your experience? My husband is worried at the thought of me having surgery (he had his kidney out this year, so knows abdominal surgery isn't a walk in the park!), though the TVS gynae says it could be done with keyhole.However, I also wonder whether it's best NOT to do keyhole, as is there not a risk that the ovary will rupture during removal, and then, if there IS any malignancy (or even proto-malignancy) in the cyst, that may get loose into my body and nest somewhere else!All information on this will be MOST gratefully received.I am very glad I did go ahead and get all this further checked out. I know US has its limitations, but even so, I think it's paid off this time by spotting 'something'.All the very, very best to all of you fighting ovca, and I hope, hope you win your battles.Julie.
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Abnormal cells after LEEP
-3:00 - 19.11.2008
I had the leep procedure done in the end of march and I recently had an abnormal pap.Before i had this procedure I was told I could have some difficulties with having children in the future. Well I went in for a pap and she told me everything looks great and now I recieved my results back and it came back abnormal. For once in for all i thought maybe i could have children without worring..but now im going back in on monday and im 24 and i almost want to be selfish and have a child now before its to late and things just get worse. Has anyone experienced a leep and abnormal paps and have had children after?I never thought i would have to think about this at my age but not having children in the future years and waiting for it will kill me. someone please help me with a story of their own.Danny
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Cone Biopsy
-3:00 - 16.11.2008
So the background info is that I had an abnormal pap in 2006, was diagnosed with HPV, and had a colposcopy in 2006 that showed low grade dysplasia. They wanted me to have 6 month paps and would watch and wait I suppose. From there, I wasn't impressed with my doctor and switched to a different clinic. I had my records from the previous clinic sent to this one so there wouldn't be any confusion as to what was going on or why I was so persistent to have a repap right then which was 6 months after my previous one. So, afterwards I recieved a lovely letter in the mail stating that the results were normal for my condition. I probably should have asked what exactly that meant. But, I was thrilled with the thought of not having another colpo. Six months later I was back again for another pap. Thinking the last one was "normal for my condition" I didn't freak out at all until I got the call saying I needed to schedule a colposcopy because there had been changes. I'm not really thrilled at this point where I have a month to anxiously wait to have my colpo. I had the colpo last week and it really wasn't as bad as the first. Not really any pain except when she took the biopsy. My Dr. was really good at explaining what she was doing etc. and drew me a picture of what she saw. So I freak out for a week waiting for the results. For some reason they didn't have my records from the previous clinic I went to and my Dr. wanted to look at them to make comparisons I suppose. I was able to track down my records but found out she didn't really need them at this point. I talked to the Dr. Friday night at around 6pm while I was driving in the rain and couldn't see a thing. Not the best time to chat since I was a little preoccupied with not driving off the road. What I got out of the conversation was that my results came back high grade and something about glands. She wants to do a cone biopsy and I have the option of either doing it in the office with the LEEP or the operating room with the laser. She did explain the difference between the two but I was so distracted with the rain and driving and the high grade and glands part that I can't remember the difference between the two. I talked to her nurse today which was no help at all. She said she was new and didn't have answers to any of my questions but would have someone call me tomorrow. So I guess my question is...what is the difference? What does high grade and glands mean? Do I have cancer? Will I ever be able to have children? I don't do well with things that aren't in my control and at this point I'm seriously freaking out. Any answers or suggestions? Sorry for the lengthy detail.
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mouth sores from Doxil
-3:00 - 15.11.2008
I was just wondering if anyone has any cures that have worked for mouth sores from Doxil. My mom has them very bad. Her oncologist has given her varies treatments but nothing seems to work, not even the "magic mouthwash" My mom is a fighter, but this is really kicking her but. She started getting them with her 3rd treatment, were they were so bad that they even ran down her throat. Now on her 4th treatment she has them again, luckly not down her throat, but has them really bad, that she can barely even speak. Please help, she will pretty much try anything just to get rid of them.Sandra
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need advice
-3:00 - 14.11.2008
I am recovering from a cone biopsy and scraping of cervix. I am 1 week post op. My wonderful MD called me on thursday 11-13-08 to let me know that my results from the biopsy came back and did show severe displasia of the cervix, which i knew, that was why we did the procedure. He also told me that the scraping that was done further inside my cervix also came back with displasia. So i am left with not many options. Eaither go for another cone, or have a hysterectomy. I think this has put me in a depression. I feel down, tired, and dont want to talk to anyone. I have one child and probably would not have had anymore, but it is tearing me up to have this taken away from me. I know i have to have it done. I feel like i am not worth anything anymore. thanks dancie
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Radiation or not
-3:00 - 13.11.2008
I am post-op, a month ago I had a hysterectomy for cervical cancer 1a2, for my two week fallow up my doctor said that the tumor that was removed was bigger than what they thought and I might need radiation if it was bigger than 1/5 of an inch. My tumor was 3mm by 3.2mm before the surgery. I can not Imagine being much more. Does anyone know what is the cut off mesurement for not reciving anymore treatment after a hysterectomy?
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after chemo radiation
-3:00 - 12.11.2008
hi! I had treatment of chemo radiation in July. Some side effects i am experiencing still are swelling of the abdomen/ lower back ache/ some spotting - i also started HRT but wonder if anyone else experienced these things ? i am due back to cancer agency next week for check up.
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Signet Ring Adenocarcinoma
-3:00 - 12.11.2008
Hi, Any information on Signet Ring Abenocarcinoma ?
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scared
-3:00 - 11.11.2008
Hi, I am a 23 year old female. Over the past month or so I've developed some symptoms that are concerning me...For the past 2 years or so, I've had very painful intercourse upon deep penetration - I get a shooting pain throughout my pelvis....then about 1 month go, I started to experience burning upon urination & increased frequency...I made an appointment to go see my family doctor (to rule out infection, etc) & get a pap, in between the time of scheduling my appointment & going to see my doctor, I developed a dull aching in my pelvis, mostly in the lower right quadrant. I tell him this informtion, he does a urine test, pregnancy test - all negative. during my pelvic examination, he presses down on my lower right quadrant, & it just about sends me off the bed, I had pushed down on my pelvis on my own standing up & didn't really have much discomfort. Over the next few days I've been experiencing lower back pain & shooting pain into my right groin area. The doctor's next suggestion is to go for a pelvic ultrasound....however, I have to wait until January for an appointment- in the meantime I am beside myself worrying I have cancer! I will note that my periods have remained normal, & I have had no abnormal bleeding
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Signet Ring Adenocarcinoma/Ovarian Cancer
-3:00 - 11.11.2008
My BFF is 39 and was just diagnosed with Signet Ring Adenocarcinoma/Ovarian Cancer. Her first Chemo treatment is today.Does anyone have any experience with this type of Cancer or any suggestions that can help us better understand it?Any information would be really appreciated!Thanks,Juli
