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also been reported to include fainting, seizures, paralysis, and death. Though these adverse events have occurred in a small proportion of vaccinated girls, it occurs in more than would be affected by cervical cancer and was not previously seen in clinical trials, indicating unknown effects and a need to remove the vaccine from the market until further testing is completed.

Cervical Cancer and the Lack of Benefits from Vaccinating

The average age of patients with cervical cancer is approximately 45-50 years old, with many patients being over the age of 65. The vaccine is expected to have a time span for effectiveness of only 5 years, though this has not been tested. Vaccination will, therefore, not prevent the majority of late life cervical cancer cases.

If a woman were to get vaccinated against cervical cancer, the argument is that it should be done before they are sexually active and potentially exposed to HPV. This indicates that it would probably occur in children and thus be the parents' decision. However, this is a prime point in life when the reproductive system is developing. There have been no long term tests on the effect of vaccination on reproductive health and function. It would be a disaster if the next generation of women were the guinea pigs for the next Vioxx-type recall, particularly if the vaccine is not effective for what it is to be preventing.

Learn more about this author, Alicia M Prater PhD.
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