Better Profits Through Scaremongering!
Merck has begun marketing its Gardasil vaccine as applicable to young boys. So, what’s the big deal?
Gardasil, Merck’s cervical cancer vaccine, has already been heavily marketed to young girls (actually, to brainwashed soccer moms for their young daughters). The real market for Gardasil is young women who have compromised immune systems. (HPV is almost never a problem for women with uncompromised immune systems, and less so for women who do not engage in risky behaviors like scooting between multiple sex partners, drug use, etc.)
Nevertheless, parents should evaluate whether the vaccine is for their daughters. Side effects include, but are not limited to:
Pain in the area of the injection
Swelling in the are of the injection
Redness in the area of the injection
Fever (or very high fever)
Nausea
Dizziness
Diarrhea
Vomiting
Cough
Toothache
General ill feeling
Joint pain
Trouble sleeping (insomnia)
Stuffy nose
Signs of an allergic reaction, including difficulty breathing, wheezing, an unusual skin rash, itching, or hives
Of course, now that Merck is marketing the stuff for boys, who knows what the side effects may be, since it wasn’t tested on males (see the other “Things You Might Not Know About Gardasil” at the link…)
But why market the vaccine for boys, anyway? Oh, I guess because,
The new male recommendation is based on the notion that boys could get throat cancer if they have oral sex with an HPV-infected girl.
OK, examine that for a second. There are really relatively few cervical cancer cases in American women each year, in fact, in any given year, only 0.0087% of women are even diagnosed with cervical cancer. Look at that percentage carefully again: 0.0087%, that’s 8.7 in 100,000. And of those cases, 8.44 of the 8.7 (per 100,000) new cases are cured by various medical means currently available.
The death rate from cervical cancer is about 4,600 per year in the U.S., a less than the flu. No matter how you slice the annual average 36,000 deaths from flu in the U.S., many, many more than 4,600 are women. So, among many risk factors, HPV is relatively low, even for women, as a health risk factor–and even lower if they do not engage in risky behaviors and behaviors that compromise their immune systems.
So, then, what’s the big risk of throat cancer in boys from exposure to HPV, anyway?
In looking at patients with tumors that were positive for a particular strain of HPV already well-linked to cervical cancer, six or more oral sex partners increased risk for throat cancer by eightfold. [emphasis added]
Wow! That certainly seems scary enough, doesn’t it? But wait a minute… how prevalent is throat cancer anyway, and what are the other risk factors, and how are they weighted?
Approximately 34,000 people in the US will be newly diagnosed with oral cancer in 2007.*
That’s certainly more than will be diagnosed with cervical cancer–by a factor of about 9. But of course, most of those with throat (and oral) cancers are men.
“HPV has been found to be a factor in about one out of five oral cancers.” OK “a factor” in 20% of throat cancer cases. That’s poretty significant, but still leaves other factors influencing the other 80%, doesn’t it? And note that’s “a factor” in those 20% of cases, indicating that even in those cases, there are others. In fact, “About 90 percent of people who develop these [oral, throat] cancers use some form of tobacco.”
Seems tobacco use is the biggie. In fact, from that source it would seem that at least some (up to 90%?) of those “20% of cases” would likely involve tobacco use, too.
So, Merck’s marketing their Gardasil vaccine to protect boys from this risk? At about $300-$400 per boy (OK, I threw in a nominal–and totally bogus!–$15 per Dr. visit for the three-series shots; it’ll be more, of course)? And what will the customer get? Possible protection for boys who
a. have compromised immune systems
b. are (likely) heavy tobacco users
c. have six or more oral sex partners
Possible protection, because the jury’s still not in on Gardisil’s effectiveness against oral/throat cancers with an HPV linkage.
It is not yet clear if the HPV vaccine now approved for the prevention of cervical cancer in women can also prevent HPV-driven throat cancer or other malignancies that have been linked to HPV infection… **
Hmmm, seems like parents actually being parents and teaching their boys (and girls) about the benefits of chastity as opposed to instant gratification, avoid tobacco use and other risky behaviors, etc. would be much more effective, as well as having a beneficial effect on society in general.
But that would require parents to be, well, parents, you know, the responsible adults we all know most parents… are not.
Oh, well. Just scare ‘em and give ‘em some drugs.
(Oh, and before anyone pipes in with “You just don’t know kids” or some such bullshit, well, yes I do. I’ve not only taught and worked with teenagers, my Wonder Woman and I have raised our own. Responsible parenting is too possible. I learned it from my wife.)
Trackposted to Blog @ MoreWhat.com, Rosemary’s Thoughts, Faultline USA, Right Truth, Nuke’s News & Views, Cao’s Blog, Right Voices, Pursuing Holiness, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.
THIS is an open trackbacks post. Link to THIS post and track back. 
If you have a linkfest/open trackback post to promote OR if you simply want to promote a post via the linkfests/open trackback posts others are offering, GO TO LINKFEST HAVEN DELUXE! Just CLICK the link above or the graphic immediately below.
If you want to host your own linkfests but have not yet done so, check out the Open Trackbacks Alliance. The FAQ there is very helpful in understanding linkfests/open trackbacks.
Posted: September 19th, 2007 under Blogroll.
Tags: stupid is as stupid does
Trackback URL for this post: http://www.thirdworldcounty.us/wp-trackback.php?p=3215
Comments
Trackback from Big Dogs Weblog
Time September 19, 2007 at 10:32 AM
Approval of Congress at All Time Low…
……
Pingback from The World According To Carl
Time September 19, 2007 at 10:48 AM
[...] The Amboy Times, Cao’s Blog, Conservative Cat, Pursuing Holiness, Rosemary’s Thoughts, third world county, Faultline USA, The Crazy Rants Of Samantha Burns, Pirate’s Cove, Blue Star Chronicles, The [...]
Trackback from The World According To Carl
Time September 19, 2007 at 10:49 AM
Strange Video: Familjen – “Det Snurrar I Min Skalle”…
This video is highly unusual. The footage comes from unknown (at least to me) film footage from the 1960’s (possibly) of a charismatic healing service most likely from somewhere in Europe. It’s spliced together in such a way to make it appear that …
Trackback from Woman Honor Thyself
Time September 19, 2007 at 11:26 AM
Lars Vilks “offends” the Kvetchers…
Hire your goon..here comes another toon!
……
Trackback from DeMediacratic Nation
Time September 19, 2007 at 12:01 PM
Wednesday Hero…
1st Lt. Forrest P. Ewens26 years old from Tonasket, Washing ……
Trackback from Planck’s Constant
Time September 19, 2007 at 12:47 PM
A Salmagundi of Pirate Tales…
Ahoy, me hearties! ‘Tis Talk Like a Swashbuckler Tide again an’ I be havin’ a booty chest a merry yarns fer ye so let`s hoist th’ mizzen whilst I spin ye th’ important tales o’ th’ tide: …
Trackback from The Random Yak
Time September 19, 2007 at 2:30 PM
Where Ideas Come From…
When people learn that I blog (or send me e-mail through the blog) they tend to ask one question more than any other.
The answer is, “No, I was born this way.”
Actually, the question they really ask is: “How do you find new things …
Trackback from Blog @ MoreWhat.com
Time September 19, 2007 at 4:24 PM
In Fairness to Fred Thompson……
Stating the GOP race is more competitive now seems an obvious conclusion and more plausible than the flawed theory proposed by WaPo or vaguely disclosed sources.
……
Trackback from The Amboy Times
Time September 19, 2007 at 7:42 PM
Cartoon Counter-Jihad…
I’m not a graphic novel reader myself, but this looks interesting. JW: The main character in The Infidel, the upcoming graphic novel by the ex-Muslim Bosch Fawstin, is another ex-Muslim cartoonist. The one who is a character in the book…
Trackback from Planck’s Constant
Time September 19, 2007 at 8:03 PM
Chungs Close Shop after Roy Pearson Suit…
They have finally had enough, Soo Chung and her husband, Jin Nam Chung, owners of a dry cleaner who were sued for $54 million over a missing pair of pants, have sold the shop involved in the dispute. …
Trackback from Conservative Cat
Time September 19, 2007 at 9:22 PM
Important Safety Tip While Driving on Highway 53 North of the I-90 Tollway…
It turns out there is a junior league hockey team called The Chicago Force operating in the northwest suburbs. This organization has nothing to do with Bruce and Nate’s favorite football team, the Chicago Force. I’m mentioning this in case……
Pingback from » Avast – There be trouble a brewin’ in paradiseHurricane Dean Blog » Blog Archive
Time September 19, 2007 at 10:54 PM
[...] News & Views, Shadowscope, Cao’s Blog, The Amboy Times, Pursuing Holiness, Faultline USA, third world county, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, The World According to Carl, The Pink Flamingo, Dumb Ox Daily [...]
Comment from Angel
Time September 19, 2007 at 11:15 PM
pathetic would be an understatement David..perhaps its time
to bring back sodomy laws..For mercys sake…who would have
ever dreamed discussing this plain as day……..before Clinton
that is!…
Trackback from Shadowscope
Time September 19, 2007 at 11:18 PM
Thursday Thirteen #1…
Since I have ditched the Thursday Thongs meme here I decided last week that I wanted to try and start participating regularly in the Thursday Thirteen. I was out of town last week and didn’t have the time to……
Pingback from The World According To Carl
Time September 19, 2007 at 11:21 PM
[...] The Amboy Times, Conservative Cat, Pursuing Holiness, Rosemary’s Thoughts, Faultline USA, third world county, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, Pirate’s Cove, Blue Star Chronicles, The Pink Flamingo, [...]
Comment from Faultline USA
Time September 20, 2007 at 12:46 AM
I had no idea that Gardasil was also being marketed to boys. I used to think the lawyers and insurance companies ran this country but now I’m sure it’s the drug companies!
Trackback from Leaning Straight Up
Time September 20, 2007 at 2:36 AM
Final Word: OJ…
They arrested him, but he made Bail. They charged him with everything but the fall of man.
He’s not going to escape this barring some miracle, so the Goldman’s will gloat.
My only real question?
Be honest: How man…
Trackback from Faultline USA
Time September 20, 2007 at 3:12 AM
Clinton said immigration can threaten bonds of our…
“What do the changes mean? They can either strengthen and unite us, or they can weaken and divide us. We must decide? But mark my words, unless we handle this well, immigration of this sweep and scope could threaten the bonds of our union.”…
Comment from Diane
Time September 20, 2007 at 7:28 AM
So I’ve been battling a bladder infection for what seems like the last two years and even switched doctors over this damn thing so I go to the latest doctor and she gave me something I forget now what and it seems to work but only for a while so I go back and she gives me something else and this doesn’t work so she just a week ago gave me CIPRO and two days later I have a killer headache and that continues so I look up the side effects for CIPRO and sure enough one of them is headaches so I quit taking it and now two days after I stop the drug I have no headache but I have to pee everytime I turn around so I guess I’ll just stop turning around and see if that helps.
HA! How’s that for a run on sentence? LMAO!!
DAVID! Go make an account at GoDaddy and I’ll get the domain thing fingered out. 
Trackback from Republican National Convention Blog
Time September 20, 2007 at 8:22 AM
Michael B. Mukasey Biography…
Michael Bernard Mukasey (born July 28, 1941). Mukasey attended the Ramaz School in Manhattan, graduating in 1959. His wife, Susan, was a teacher and headmistress of the lower school at Ramaz and both of their children (Marc and Jessica) attended the …..
Pingback from Public Eye » Carter: Iran no threat
Time September 20, 2007 at 11:39 AM
[...] Cao’s Blog, The Amboy Times, Leaning Straight Up, Conservative Cat, Pursuing Holiness, third world county, Faultline USA, Right Celebrity, Wake Up America, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, The World [...]
Pingback from Ask Andrea » The Lawful Affair: With Your Wife
Time September 20, 2007 at 9:36 PM
[...] Leaning Straight Up, The Amboy Times, Conservative Cat, Pursuing Holiness, Diary of the Mad Pigeon, third world county, Right Celebrity, Faultline USA, Wake Up America, The Crazy Rants of Samantha Burns, The World [...]
Trackback from Leaning Straight Up
Time September 21, 2007 at 2:14 AM
Come to Seattle and ride the SLUT…
No, really. Only in Seattle would they call their new Trolley line the South Lake Union Trolley, or SLUT.
So yes, everyone come to Seattle and ride the SLUT.
Seattle’s ‘S.L.U.T.’ just a trolley ride
Officially, it’s the So…
Trackback from Leaning Straight Up
Time September 21, 2007 at 2:29 AM
More Hsu/Clinton finance scandals…
Behold: See how the Democrats get money for their campaigns. Via Politico.
Hsu charged with running pyramid scheme
He’s being charged both with running a pyramid scheme and with campaign finance violations, says the Journ…
Comment from Debbie
Time September 19, 2007 at 10:21 AM
I had no idea they were pushing this for BOYS. Doesn’t sound like this should happen, since boys were not included in the research and testing phase. I’m still not sure it should be pushed for young girls either.