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Japan, U.S. Poles Apart on Harmful HPV Vaccine

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Story Highlights
  • In 2013, Japan withdrew its recommendation for the HPV vaccine.
  • The decision was made after hundreds of HPV vaccine recipients reported serious side effects.
  • During the same period, health officials in the U.S. began aggressively pushing the HPV vaccine.

Over the last few years, Japan has experienced a sharp decline in their fertility rate—one of the lowest rates in the world.1 2 Coupled with its low fertility rate is an aging population that continues to grow rapidly.1 For obvious economic reasons, it comes as no surprise that Japan’s government has expressed legitimate concerns over its declining population.1 2 In response to this predicament, in 2009, the government began offering monetary incentives to women that bear children, however, their efforts remained unfruitful.2 3 As a result of the looming crisis, Japan’s government has exercised caution in implementing initiatives that affect women’s’ reproductive health.4

On June 14, 2013, much to everyone’s surprise, Japan’s Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare publicly announced that it had decided to withdraw its recommendation for the HPV vaccine (Gardasil and Cervarix both approved for HPV vaccination in Japan) to protect girls from cervical cancer.4 5 The decision was made after hundreds of HPV vaccine recipients reported side effects ranging from long-term pain, to numbness and paralysis.2 4 At the time, it was reported that an estimated 3.28 million people in Japan had received the vaccine from which 1,968 recipients formally complained about side effects.2 4 A task force set up by the ministry to spearhead this matter discussed 43 of these cases, however, a cause and effect relationship between the vaccine and side effects was not determined. As a result, the task force called for further investigation.4

While the Japanese health ministry did not entirely suspend the use of the vaccine, it clearly instructed local governments to cease promoting the use of HPV vaccines.2 4 Girls could still receive the vaccine for free but healthcare providers were obligated to inform them that the ministry did not recommend it. Interestingly, the head of the task force, vice president of the International University of Health and Welfare, Mariko Momoi stated, “The decision (not to recommend the vaccination) does not mean that the vaccine itself is problematic from the viewpoint of safety.”4

He went on to say, “By implementing investigations, we want to offer information that can make people feel more at ease.”4 Even more gripping is that it is extremely rare for the Japanese health ministry to not only withdraw a recommendation of a vaccine that was used regularly but also one that had been approved as part of the revisions in their Preventative Vaccination Law merely two months prior in April 2013.4

Meanwhile, in the United States, federal health officials continued to endorse the HPV vaccine after a study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that the prevalence of vaccine-type HPV decreased by 56% among females between the ages of 14 to 19 years since the introduction of Gardasil in 2006. Important to note is that the study did not include Cervarix.6 The director of the CDC, Thomas Frieden stated, “These are striking results. They should be a wake up call that we need to increase vaccination rates. The bottom line is: It is possible to protect the next generation from cancer and we need to do it.”6 The push for the HPV vaccine became stronger than ever in the United States.7

Ironically, the study was released at a time when there was significant resistance to the HPV vaccine by parents. More than 40% of parents reported that their children were not up to date with the vaccine.8 Parents whose children had not completed the HPV vaccine series and those that did not seek out the vaccine at all were more likely to cite safety concerns the main factor for their decision.9

Almost two years later, the HPV vaccine is still not recommended in Japan, and the CDC continues to push for increased HPV vaccination in the United States.7 The million-dollar question is “Why?”


References:

1 Swanson A. Japan’s Birth Rate Problem is Way Worse than Anyone Imagined. The Washington Post Jan. 7, 2015.
2 Sarah. Gardasil Shocker: Japan Withdraws Support for HPV Vaccine. The Healthy Home Economist Jun. 17, 2013.
3 Spak K. Government to Japanese: Have Babies, We’ll Pay You. Newser Oct. 8, 2009.
4 The Asahi Shimbun. Health Ministry Withdraws Recommendation for Cervical Cancer Vaccine. The Asahi Shimbun Jun. 15, 2013.
5 Mulcahy N. Japan Withdraws HPV Vaccine Recommendation for Girls – Updated. Medscape Medical News Jun. 25 2013.
6 Mulcahy N. Japan Withdraws HPV Vaccine Recommendation for Girls. Medscape Medical News Jun. 25, 2013.
7 The Inquisitr. Gardasil Debate Still On One Year After It Was Taken from Japan’s Schedule. The Inquisitr Sept. 6, 2014.
8 Dell’ Antonia KJ. Will Parents Still Turn Down “Anti-Cancer Vaccine”? The New York Times Parenting Blog Jun. 19. 2013.
9 Dell’ Antonia KJ. Resistance to HPV Vaccine Needs New Solutions. The New York Times Parenting Blog Mar. 18, 2013.

3 Responses

  1. A decline in HPV in the 14-19-year-old age range? What kind of population are we talking about here? Sex is illegal in the 14-18-year-old group, so how many kids are in this group anyway? If someone is sexually active at age 14, then yes, maybe they need this shot, since they are probably too impulsive and not mature enough to use condoms. But for my teenagers, sex is unthinkable, and even an icky idea, so why subject them to a dangerous shot for absolutely no reason? It’s about as dumb as giving the HepB shot to a newborn (well, no, that’s the dumbest idea). The fact that the government assumes every teenager is sexually promiscuous is an insult to them and their parents.

    1. I agree the HPV vaccine is dangerous and unnecessary. But your age comment is inaccurate:
      The ages of consent in North America for sexual activity vary by jurisdiction.

      The age of consent in Canada is 16. All U.S. states set their limits between 16 and 18.

      The age of consent in Mexico is complex. Typically, Mexican states have a “primary” age of consent (which may be as low as 12), and sexual conduct with persons below that age is always illegal. Sexual relations which occur between adults and teenagers under 18 are left in a legal gray area: laws against corruption of minors as well as estupro laws can be applied to such acts, at the discretion of the prosecution. These laws are situational and are subject to interpretation.

      The ages of consent in the countries of Central America range from 15 to 18.

      https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ages_of_consent_in_North_America

      •Then there are “Romeo & Juliet” laws which vary in many states, which make it legal for minors of a certain age (average 14 years) to be able to legally enter into a sexual relationship with another minor who is at least (avg) 14 and is no more than three years older.

      Also, most parents, especially dads, believe that their daughters don’t even think/talk about sex, or that they think sex is “icky,” etc. but unless teenage girls are cloistered from US society (including television/movies/Internet/etc) and home schooled, it’s a pretty safe bet your daughters know/think/talk, and, yes, even fantasize about sex. The average age masturbation begins in females is 11 years old. The average age of a first (French) kiss for US girls is 12. The average age of the start of female puberty is 10 (breast/hair growth beginning) and average age of the start of menses is 12. The average age a girl in the U.S. loses her virginity is 16, but the average age of first sexual contact (petting/touching) is 13 and the average age of first giving/receiving oral sex is 15.

      It is also a fact that girls who live in households where sex is isn’t discussed openly with their parents are more likely to engage in sexual activities earlier than girls who can easily talk about sex with their parents.

      Also, girls who grow up in extremely restricted environments, where sex is never discussed except to say it’s bad/wrong/evil/etc. are more likely to be sexually manipulated, molested, assaulted and/or raped.

      Sadly, no matter what the upbringing of the girl, one in 5 girls have/will be molested before their 18th birthday, and 1 in 4 will be sexually assaulted at least once in their lifetimes.

      Instead of shielding our daughters we should be educating them.

  2. The mix messages here for teenagers are apparent. We are telling them to refrain from sex, but at the same giving them access to tools that will allow them to go ahead – letting their guard down to their possible detriment. Also the CDC should be promoting health and wellness instead of focusing on illnesses that do not exist until they convince your doctor to inject it into you. The CDC is a creator of sickness, misery and death.

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