Two cautionary views on Gardasil

With essentially the same points being made repeatedly in editorial and op-ed pages across the country, we suspect that we'll be linking to far fewer opinion pieces regarding Gardasil in the weeks ahead. (Exceptions will certainly be made for essays such as Alice Dreger's that offer a unique perspective.)

Since nearly every commentary we've seen has offered unabashed praise for HPV vaccines, it seems fair to call attention to two commentaries published in the last few days offering a slightly more cautionary take while still supporting the vaccine generally (it would be hard not to).

The first was written by Peter Sprigg of the Family Research Council and published in Saturday's Washington Post. Titled, "Pro-family, pro-vaccine--but keep it voluntary," the op-ed begins by citing the positive reception the vaccine has received from the FRC and other conservative organizations. However, Sprigg then outlines two concerns: the first notes the importance of accurate communication about what level of protection the vaccine does and does not provide. His point that claims of Gardasil's "100 percent effectiveness," while accurate in their intended context, can create confusion when used less precisely is on target. (Data suggest the vaccine is 100% effective against the 70% of cervical cancer-causing HPV strains it targets.) Sprigg's second concern touches about the FRC's oft-stated opposition to mandating HPV vaccination as a condition of school entry, a decision the group (and others) believe should be left to families.

A second essay with a very similar thesis appeared in today's New York Times, titled "A new vaccine for girls, but should it be compulsory?" by Roni Rabin. Rabin advocates continued vigilance regarding pap smears (as nearly everyone does), but questions the ACIP universal recommendation for HPV vaccination due to the continued decrease in cervical cancer incidence in the past 50 years. In her essay, she suggests the funds that will pay for the vaccine could be better spent on 'preventive health care' (a category that, for Rabin, apparently doesn't include vaccination). She also wonders aloud about as-yet-unknown potential safety concerns and the limited size of the clinical trial cohort of younger girls.