4 I TUESDAY, BEI7. 9, 2008 CDC: Gardasil vaccination safe in spite of deaths A recent editorial criticized the long-term health risks and side effects that could possibly be associated with the vaccination. By Jessica Barth COLLEGIAN SIT WRITER jlbs47o@psu.edu When Nicole Farrell received her final Gardasil vaccination last June, the potential for risky side effects or even death were not factored into her decision to receive the cancer-preven tative drug. "I'm surprised my doctor didn't mention possible risks, otherwise I might have thought twice about it," Farrell (sophomore-business) said. As of June 30, 20 deaths had been reported in women after receiving the Gardasil vaccination, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Pre vention (CDC) Web site. However, according to the CDC, there were no patterns in these cases to point to the cause being the vaccine. DRESS FOR SUCCESS Fine Clothing & Sportswear for Men 114 W College Avenue • Downtown State College • 814.238.4767 Hours; Monday to Saturday 9-6, Thursday 9-8 & Sundays 12-4 the menbiles the tameted dos, at, - 9,749: reports of adverse effects 94% of reported . adverse effects considered nowserlous (fainting, headache, nausea). 9% of reported adverse effects considemd status (death, Guillaitt- Bane syndrorrie, blot clots) The New England Journal of Medi cine (NEJM) recently published a piece questioning the benefits and health risks associated with the vac cine. In the piece, Dr. Charlotte Haug warned young women to be cautious with any large-scale vaccination pro gram, such as Gardasil, because risks are always a possibility "We don't yet know the long-term effects or side effects of this vaccine. That is the problem I address in the editorial. When we don't know, it is also impossible to say what the great S W KAGE Price LOCAL est risk is," Haug wrote in an e-mail. With possible various health risks exposed, Farrell expressed a more cautious attitude toward the vaccine. Farrell, who received the vaccine, said she would now have to do more research before suggesting it to any one else. The CDC responded to the Haug's piece, reporting Gardasil's benefits far outweigh the risks, said Shelley Haffner, nurse manager for infection control at University Health Services. Her recommendation, and that of University Health Services, will be based on the information and recom mendation provided by the CDC, which supports continued vaccina tion, Haffner said. scum CDC "There's always going to be a sub set of people who have adverse reac tions, that is typical of any immuniza tion," Haffner said. "These numbers are within a normal range." Merck & Co., which manufactures the vaccine, could not provide anyone who could speak on behalf of Gar dasil. Last year, University Health Ser vices distributed 1,815 doses of the Collegian The 12-member Board of Directors of Collegian Inc. is soliciting applications for one faculty member and three student members to serve on the Board. Media experience is not required. For the faculty seat, Penn State faculty at University Park are eligible. For the student seats, full-time undergraduate and graduate students at University Park are eligible. The following are not eligible for these seats: Collegian staff members and former staff members (for five years after leaving the staff). Others are not eligible under our conflict-of-interest policies (for example, students involved with other media, student government officials, officers of major student organizations). Collegian Inc. is a Pennsylvania non profit corporation, which is legally and financially responsible for The Daily Collegian, The Weekly Collegian, Collegian Magazine and The Daily Collegian Online. Collegian Inc. is responsible for: • Overseeing the operation of The Daily Collegian and related publications. However, as a matter of policy, the Board does not become involved in day-to-day operations. • Selecting the top management of Collegian Inc. and monitoring the performance of the Management Team. • Setting broad policy and long range goals. • Ensuring the financial independence and editorial freedom of The Daily Collegian and related publications. Collegian Inc. is self-supporting with an annual budget of more than $l.B million. The dual mission of Collegian Inc. is to provide a quality college newspaper for Penn State and a rewarding educational experience for its student staff members. . Interested people are invited to submit a letter of application and a resume to Mr. Gerry Lynn Hamilton. E-mail applications preferred glhs@psu.edu Applications by regular mail may be sent to News Division - Business Division - Systems Division - General Services Division for Board of Directors Collegian Inc. vaccine and no serious complications or adverse reactions were seen or reported, Haffner said. "I hope young women do not base their decision on these reports alone. Each individual needs to talk to their health care provider and see if it is right for them. There are individuals who should not take the vaccine," Haffner said. Though Farrell said she wished she had done more research before get ting the vaccine, she agrees with Haffner: risks are possible with any health-related decision. "I'm not scared because tLere are health risks associated with every thing you take," Farrell said. "I don't regret taking it. It was a chance I took to prevent HPV [human papillo mavirusl and cervical cancer." The CDC reports only a sniall num ber of all cases were considered to be seriously adverse, Haffner said. Reactions that aren't related to the injection often occur after immuniza tions, she said, adding she had heard of cases that resulted in death or risky side effects that weren't a result of the Gardasil vaccine. invites applications Letters should include your: 1. Reasons for seeking a directorship.' 2. Local address, telephone number and e-mail address. 3. Permanent home address and telephone number. The deadline for letters of application is 4 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15. A limited number of applicants will be interviewed by a committee of the Board. The Board of Directors includes four Penn State students, two Penn State faculty members and three directors-at- large The editor in chief and the business manager, who are students, also serve on the Board. The general manager, who is employed by the corporation, is a non voting member. • Renee B. Flemish (president and at-large director), leadership integrity director, Smeal College of Business, Penn State; former executive program director of World Trade Center Disaster Relief; former science writer for The Daily Collegian.) • Clay Calvert (vice president and faculty director) professor of communications and law, co-director of the Pennsylvania Center for the First Amendment, Penn State College of Communications; and former writer and opinions editor at The Stanford Daily, the independent college newspaper at Stanford University. • Gerry Lynn Hamilton (secretary), general manager; former city editor of The Daily Collegian, 1968-69. • Thomas Pieters (student director), majoring in psychology with a focus on neuroscience, Penn State. • Michael B. Hofherr (treasurer and at-large director), Information technology manager, Smeal College of Business,. Penn State, which includes responsibility for the Smeal Web team. • Howard W. Heevner (at-large director), director, Annual Giving, Penn State; former opinion writer for The Daily lowan, the independent college newspaper at the University of lowa. • Terry Casey, editor in chief. • Stef Kemmler, business manager. "There's always going to be a subset of people who have adverse reactions, [it's] typical of any immunization." Shelley Haffner nurse manager for infection control at University Health Services Gardasil will continue to be avail able at the Student Health Center, Haffner said. "We haven't seen anything abnor mal," Haffner said. "At this point our recommendation is still strongly in favor of taking the vaccine." Haug advises all young women to be safe regardless of whether or not they have had the vaccine. "I would also send the message that they should be careful and pro tect themselves [with condoms] if they do not know if their partner is infected or not. And they should also continue to have their Pap smears taken," Haug wrote. 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