‘Centre should come up with national policy on this kind of medical experimentation'
Close to 70 civil society groups, public health organisations, medical professionals, human rights organisations, women's groups and individuals have voiced their opposition to the nature of the HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccination ‘projects' carried out in Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat by PATH International, in collaboration with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the respective State governments.
They urged the Union government to come up with a national policy on this kind of medical “experimentation” and a pro-people vaccine policy based on public health needs.
In a memorandum submitted to Health and Family Welfare Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, the groups pointed out that the efficacy of the vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix, was highly suspect and a number of very serious side-effects, including deaths of vaccinated girls, were reported across the world.
As per extensive documentations made after fact-finding missions by local groups in Khammam district of Andhra Pradesh (where 14,000 girls in the age group of 10-14 years have been vaccinated with three doses of the HPV vaccine), 120 reported adverse side-effects.
The groups also demanded that the government set up an inquiry into the death of four tribal girls and into the side-effects of the vaccine on affected girls so that responsibility could be fixed and action taken.
All agencies involved in the project need to be held accountable and culpable for any ethical, legal, medical violations that emerge in such an inquiry, they said.
Suggesting that the State governments take immediate action — including providing compensation to the families that have lost their children and to the children suffering from side-effects — the memorandum said those administered the vaccine should be provided proper medical treatment and follow-up.
The government should place in the public domain all documents pertaining to the agreement with the vaccine manufacturers and all other bodies regarding the Centre's plan to introduce the vaccine.
The list of projects planned, proposed, approved and completed should also be made public, as also the names of the agencies involved, donors and proposed locations, and the results of the pilot phase and clinical trials.
Among the signatories to the memorandum are, the Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, the All-India Democratic Women's Association, All-India Drug Action Network, Sama-Resource Group for Women and Health, Action India, HAQ-Centre for Child Rights, Jagori, Breastfeeding Promotion Network of India, Delhi Forum, at least 26 groups and individuals from Andhra Pradesh, Mira Shiva, Saheli, and several groups from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Delhi.
Keywords: HPV vaccine, Andhra Pradesh, norms, Ghulam Nabi Azad, ICMR
Dear sreenivasarao. I assure you that if this vaccine were as effective as it claimed to be, there would be millions of young women as well as their mothers voicing praises of the wonderful health of their daughters. The fact that you are only hearing bad comments is because we ARE mothers. And good ones and we not only want our daughter's health back, but we strive to make sure that you and your daughter don't end up in the same boat as us. If you listen to the voices of experience that have nothing to gain, unlike the Big Pharma companies, then you too could prevent the tragedies that we are living each and every day. This is not the kind of life that I would wish on anyone! Please be open minded when you research. Listen to the experiences of those who were once in your trusting shoes.
On behalf of mothers and daughters everywhere,thank you to the doctors, professional medical associations and the Health and Family Welfare Minister for acting so promptly to protect the health, rights and welfare of the citizens. My daughter Christina died shortly after her third injection of Gardasil. She is one of more than 60 reported deaths and more than 17,000 reported adverse events following injections with Gardasil in the USA. A better and safer way to protect women against cervical cancer is with regular pap tests. Fund pap smear testing. The risks of the vaccine are not worth it. No one ever died from a pap smear. Thank you India for giving us all hope by doing what is morally, medically and ethically right.
I am surprised by the negative comments, about the HPV vaccine, which has been approved by the British,European Commission, authorising authorities after stringent scrutiny. unfortunately, ignorance of the pseudoscientists in India, will damage the effort to prevent cancer of the cervix, which is a major cause of death of women in India.In fact, GARDASIL covering four subtypes of the HPV is an excellent choice. However, please collect and analyse the hyped reports of adverse reactions.Hope that common sense prevails, HPV VACCIATION CONTINUES and future generation of women are PROTECTED from the evil of CERVICAL CANCER.
Is a reference available where the full contents of this memorandum may be accessed?
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