We have been following what Jon Huntsman called the war on science in the GOP. Now Rep. Michele Bachmann has added to the attacks on global warming, evolution, environmental protections, and other scientific work with a claim that the leading anti-cancer vaccine given to little girls causes retardation. Experts responded with alarm that Bachmann’s comments could discourage families from giving children the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
During the last debate with Texas governor Rick Perry, Bachmann lashed him for his 2007 order to vaccinate young girls when “little girls . . . have a potentially dangerous reaction to this drug.” She explained part of her scientific research for this remarkable claim:
I had a mother last night come up to me here in Tampa after the debate. She told me that her little daughter took that vaccine, that injection, and she suffered from mental retardation thereafter. It can have very dangerous side effects.
While more than 35 million doses have been administered without such reports of dangers, Bachmann has triggered a debate over its safety. It could be a very damaging political attack if young girls are made more vulnerable to cancer.
Source: Guardian
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-09-15/rick-perry-s-career-shows-he-puts-faith-in-political-science-ezra-klein.html
Swarthmore mom,
You betcha! Both my husband and I are.
Swarthmore,
I am excited about Warren running against Brown. She will make a great Senator.
Elaine, Are you excited about Elizabeth Warren?
Swarthmore mom,
You know how those anonymous “P” men are! They are “into” body parts–except for brains–when it comes to the female gender.
😉
You ladies aren’t talking about what one of the anon men called me are you?
Blouise 1, September 14, 2011 at 9:31 pm
anon nurse,
The “V” word … I swear to god people from Stewart’s and Colbert’s staff read this blog.
———————
Blouise,
Well, the mention of Betsy Ross’ “V” by John Stewart, I’ll forever think of her in stirrups… (and not the horsey sort)… 😉
(I’m hoping for a little poesy by the resident poet… 🙂 )
Elaine M. 1, September 14, 2011 at 5:21 pm
anon nurse,
“It was the “V” word that made me post it…”
Does that “V” word, perchance, rhyme with Carolina???
😉
———-
Minus one little syllable, Elaine M. 😉
anon nurse,
The “V” word … I swear to god people from Stewart’s and Colbert’s staff read this blog.
Very appropriate posting my dear … given the nature of this thread’s subject matter.
😉
anon,
Is that your evidence?
“Everything about Western Culture tells me we rely and believe in education and outreach, especially over force, and for good reason, it works.
“One data point in particular is that the more educated the people (women) are, the lower the birthrates.”
*****
We have plenty of people in this country who are anti-science. Some of them believe the Earth is about 6,000 years old…and that humans and dinosaurs co-existed. Rick Perry and thousands of people prayed to God for rain. We have some conservatives who are trying to outlaw certain kinds of contraceptives.
I wouldn’t say that “everything about Western Culture” shows that we rely on education and outreach–or common sense.
*****
Redefining When Life Begins: A Post about Personhood USA and Legislative Bills That Could Make the Use of Some Contraceptives Illegal
http://jonathanturley.org/2011/06/11/redefining-when-life-begins-a-post-about-personhood-usa-and-legislative-bills-that-could-make-the-use-of-some-contraceptives-illegal/
“Elaine M.
1, September 14, 2011 at 5:23 pm
anon,
“I haven’t seen any evidence that education and outreach is not sufficient.”
Have you seen any evidence that it is?”
Everything about Western Culture tells me we rely and believe in education and outreach, especially over force, and for good reason, it works.
One data point in particular is that the more educated the people (women) are, the lower the birthrates.
I don’t understand what is special about gardasil or some of the other, newer, mandatory vaccinations that would change this typical policy preference of ours.
NoWay:
“While more than 35 million doses have been administered without such reports of dangers”
No reports of dangers? No reports of severe adverse side effects?
Professor, You are either willfully ignorant or blatantly lying. There have been many reports filed on behalf of those suffering adverse side effects, up to, and including death.
—————-
“such reports” regards the dangers alleged- retardation. It could have been more elegantly written but the meaning is still clear.
The Professor is many things but willfully ignorant is not one of them nor is a liar, not from anything I have ever read of his or seen of his. *********************
I got to this thread late and must say, well done Elaine!
Hispanic and black women are at greatest danger to contract HPV. I know Bachmann is a bigot because of her statements and belief regarding gay people. Just how wide and deep that trait goes I’m not sure. Perry OTOH is just as bought as any politician so I’m pretty comfortable thinking that if Merck made a vaccine that made people as stripey and toxic as Gila Monsters he’d be inclined to push for making it mandatory if they pushed some money his way.
Pediatricians Slam Bachmann’s Anti-Vaccine Comments
http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/09/pediatricians-slam-bachmanns-anti-vaccine-comments.php?ref=fpa
Eric Kleefeld- September 14, 2011, 2:16 PM
Michele Bachmann’s opposition to vaccinating young girls against HPV, a policy Rick Perry once championed — and her allegation that it can lead to mental retardation — is now getting further pushback from outside of the regular political sphere, with the American Academy of Pediatrics chiming in.
The Academy released this statement late Tuesday, joining the list of people rebutting Bachmann’s comments, and the theory that vaccines cause brain damage:
“The American Academy of Pediatrics would like to correct false statements made in the Republican presidential campaign that HPV vaccine is dangerous and can cause mental retardation. There is absolutely no scientific validity to this statement. Since the vaccine has been introduced, more than 35 million doses have been administered, and it has an excellent safety record.
“The American Academy of Pediatrics, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the American Academy of Family Physicians all recommend that girls receive HPV vaccine around age 11 or 12. That’s because this is the age at which the vaccine produces the best immune response in the body, and because it’s important to protect girls well before the onset of sexual activity. In the U.S., about 6 million people, including teens, become infected with HPV each year, and 4,000 women die from cervical cancer. This is a life-saving vaccine that can protect girls from cervical cancer.”
anon,
“I haven’t seen any evidence that education and outreach is not sufficient.”
Have you seen any evidence that it is?
anon nurse,
“It was the “V” word that made me post it…”
Does that “V” word, perchance, rhyme with Carolina???
😉
You put other children at risk by not vaccinating your child.
Can anyone quantify that risk — just so that we can compare it to all the other risks a child or any of us face, and so we can compare it to the normal rights we typically associate with the Bill of Rights, and compare it to other occasions when we bend those rights.
Roco
1, September 14, 2011 at 4:19 pm
anon:
part of the problem with not vaccinating your children is that you can subject other children to the disease because vaccines are given at different ages. So a younger child could be exposed to a virus he hasnt been vaccinated for by an unvaccinated older child.
You put other children at risk by not vaccinating your child. If you want to do that fine, but I also have the right to request that child not be exposed to mine.
I hear this a lot, and to be honest, I don’t understand where it comes from.
I agree you have a right to request, that’s first amendment.
I don’t understand why so many people think they have a right to force an otherwise healthy individual to undergo any medical intervention. Especially a child.
As I think I have stated, in the case of an ongoing pandemic, in the case of diseases that are both very dangerous and strike very quickly before diagnosis or treatment, in those cases I can understand mandates.
In the case of *just* herd immunity (which I in particular definitely rely on) I don’t understand why someone’s demand about their own child gives the government any right to dictate my child’s medical treatment and demand various injections.
In those cases, though I agree it can lead to a non-optimal outcome medically, I nevertheless think we the people should rely on outreach and education and not force.
I haven’t seen any evidence that education and outreach is not sufficient.
http://2012.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/09/pediatricians-slam-bachmanns-anti-vaccine-comments.php?ref=fpblg
anon:
part of the problem with not vaccinating your children is that you can subject other children to the disease because vaccines are given at different ages. So a younger child could be exposed to a virus he hasnt been vaccinated for by an unvaccinated older child.
You put other children at risk by not vaccinating your child. If you want to do that fine, but I also have the right to request that child not be exposed to mine.
MerryMarjie:
“The majority of the people in need are actually in dire straits, and it’s the duty of a country to take care of them.”
I disagree on both counts. I would like to see the statistics.
Why is it the duty of your neighbor to take care of you? The country gets the money from the old lady down the street. Dont you think she could use the extra money that is taken from her to pay for people who are perfectly able to work and dont?