11/23/2016 / By Tara Paras
In the wake of various complaints about the destructive side effects of Gardasil and Cervarix, the Japanese government decided to withdraw its support for these controversial and widely pushed HPV vaccines.
As of today, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare estimates that nearly 2,000 adverse cases, out of the nearly 3.28 million Japanese people injected with the vaccine, have been reported. The complaints range from “long-term pain and numbness to infertility and paralysis.”
Notwithstanding all the negative press about it, the World Health Organization continues to stand by their support of HPV vaccines, claiming them to be useful tools for “preventing” cervical cancer.
Global pharmaceutical giant Merck, the manufacturer of Gardasil, isn’t listening to the complaints either, stating: “While direct causal relationship between the vaccines and serious symptoms observed after inoculation has not been established at this time…We will continue to collaborate with all stakeholders, including (the health ministry), to monitor and verify safety data toward resumption of active promotion for HPV vaccination as soon as possible.”
While HPV vaccinations have not been completely suspended in Japan, the government has decided not to promote it anymore. However, girls can still get the vaccine for free through subsidies, as mandated by law. The only difference now is that Japanese medical institutions must inform young girls that the government health ministry does not recommend the vaccines any longer.
Mariko Momoi, Vice President of the Health Ministry commented, “The decision (not to recommend the vaccination) does not mean that the vaccine itself is problematic from the viewpoint of safety. By implementing investigations, we want to offer information that can make the people feel more at ease.”
Momoi belongs to the government task force leading the investigation on HPV vaccinations. The task force has heard of nearly 2,000 adverse effects and is further investigating about 43 of these cases. In the months ahead, the government will have to decide whether to continue withdrawing their support or to reinstate their previous recommendation for the vaccines.
Despite mounting evidence of Gardasil’s dangers, other countries, including the United States, remain under Merck’s vaccination spell. In the U.S., for instance, the government continues to avidly recommend that teenage girls be HPV vaccinated, as they promote industry-backed studies that tout the vaccination’s “effectiveness.”
The United States actively uses taxpayer dollars to fund federal Vaccines for Children programs, which include the use of Gardasil, provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In fact, 20 states have passed laws that set aside funds for Gardasil education programs and implementation. As governments believe they are promoting general health and wellness, it’s important to look not just at the supposed “benefits” of these vaccines, but also at the documented statistics of people experiencing their dangerous side effects.
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Tagged Under:
Gardasil, HPV vaccines, Japan, Japanese government, Merck, World Health Organization
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