Gardasil Jab Linked to Pancreatitis - Australian Doctors Demand a Review

Wednesday, September 17, 2008 by: Joanne Waldron
Tags: Gardasil, health news, Natural News

(NewsTarget) Australian doctors are demanding a review of the controversial Gardasil vaccine after three girls developed pancreatitis shortly after being given the HPV jab, according to an article in The Sydney Morning Herald. Australia's Therapeutic Goods Association (TGA) is now conducting an investigation into the matter. There have also been reports of girls suffering from pancreatitis after receiving the HPV vaccine in the United States, as well.

What is Pancreatitis?

According to an article by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), acute pancreatitis begins with severe abdominal pain. Other symptoms may include swelling, fever, nausea, vomiting, and rapid pulse. In more severe cases, there may be a drop in blood pressure and dehydration. Sometimes the heart, lungs or kidneys may fail. If there's bleeding in the pancreas, shock and death are also a possibility. Treatment for pancreatitis often includes intravenous fluids, oxygen, antibiotics, or surgery.

Three Cases in Australia

One of the Australian women to develop pancreatitis was a 26-year-old who was hospitalized for four days after receiving her first dose of the Gardasil vaccine. According to the Medical Journal of Australia, the woman developed a fever, rash, excruciating pain and vomiting and had to spend ten days in the hospital. Dr. Amitabha Das and colleagues reported that they could find no other cause for the pancreatitis and said while they could not rule out the fact that the disease could be a coincidence, "neither can HPV vaccination be excluded as a potential cause." In fact, they felt that in cases of abdominal pain following HPV vaccination, pancreatitis should definitely be considered. While the second Australian girl's problems cleared up quickly, a third Australian girl is still reportedly under the care of a gastroenterologist.

More Cases in the U.S.

In addition to the cases of pancreatitis occurring after the HPV vaccine in Australia, there have been similar reports in American women. For example, CNN Medical Correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen, reports that the family of Jesalee Parsons has filed suit in federal vaccine court. Jesalee developed acute pancreatitis within hours of having the vaccine and had to have an operation to remove part of her pancreas. The poor girl missed months of school and still doesn't feel well.

How much more do parents need to read about before they stop subjecting their little girls as young as nine to this vaccine? This is a vaccine for which the long-term side effects are completely unknown. Moreover, this vaccine has never been proven to prevent cervical cancer.

The Paper Bag Princess

In addition to teaching their children the many health habits that will naturally reduce their risk of getting any type of cancer, parents would be doing their daughters a much greater service to teach them to have a little bit of self esteem, rather than subjecting them to an HPV vaccine. One book that parents might consider giving to their little girls at a very young age is called The Paper Bag Princess, by Robert N. Munsch. It's not the typical princess story.

In this tale, a princess is engaged to a very handsome prince named Ronald; however, a fierce dragon comes along and destroys the castle where the princess lives and burns her clothes with his fiery breath. Then he kidnaps Ronald. The young, ash-covered princess goes on a quest to save her beloved prince, wearing nothing but a paper bag. However, after the princess uses her intelligence to trick the dragon and save her beloved Ronald, the ungrateful prince merely tells her how awful she looks and suggests that she go away and come back when she looks like a real princess.

Give Girls a Dose of Self Esteem

The story teaches young girls a very powerful lesson. Sometimes, the "handsome prince" can be a real jerk. Rather than giving little girls a risky vaccine with unknown long-term side effects, perhaps it would be best to raise young women who are confident in their own abilities and who have a bit of self-esteem. Girls with a sense of self worth will be far less likely to be experimenting with sex before they are mature enough to know and fully understand the consequences, anyway.

About the author

Joanne Waldron is a computer scientist with a passion for writing and sharing health-related news and information with others. She hosts the Naked Wellness: The Gentle Health Revolution forum, which is devoted to achieving radiant health, well-being, and longevity.