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'Emotional terrorism': After HPV vaccine uptake rates fall to 50%, the HSE is fighting back

Health minister Simon Harris said that those who aren’t medical professionals shouldn’t be giving expert advice on vaccines.

HSE Ireland / YouTube

THE HSE HAS launched an information pack and website aimed at parents who have daughters who are entitled to the free HPV vaccine programme.

The information campaign is being launched almost seven years after the free vaccine scheme was first rolled out to girls of school-going age.

It’s hoped the information will persuade parents to allow their daughters to get the free vaccine after a campaign of scientifically incorrect information caused uptake levels of the vaccine to fall from its peak at 90% to 50% last year.

That misinformation, caused by reports from parents who said the vaccine causes a series of side effects or illnesses, has been disproven and condemned by those in scientific and medical fields.

At a presentation today, Professor Karina Butler presented evidence that showed instances of reported illnesses, although perhaps coincided with girls receiving the vaccine, were not caused by it.

Allergic reactions to the Gardasil vaccine are less frequent than the side effects caused by Penicillin, according to Butler. Because of the fears around the vaccine and multiple tests on the stories and side effects reported by parents, the vaccine is among the most-checked vaccine, and as a consequence, one of the safest.

HPV, which can be contracted by physical contact, particularly sexual contact, can lead to a number of cancers, including cervical, penile, throat and anal cancers in men and women.

Every year in Ireland, 300 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer – of that number 90 women will die of the disease. It’s hoped that HPV could eventually be eradicated if uptake rates are maintained at high levels.

One of the strongest messages relayed today was by the Minister for Health Simon Harris: “I’m not a medical expert, I don’t give medical advice and I think that’s a very good rule of thumb for everybody to follow.

I get my advice from people who train very, very hard and who are well-qualified to give medical and scientific advice. If you want to be a clinician, if you want to be a pharmacist, if you want to be a scientist go study one of those disciplines. Then come back and give scientific advice.

HSE Director General Tony O’Brien said that the campaign against the HPV vaccine couldn’t be described as anything other than “a form of emotional terrorism”.

Over the next few weeks, around 40,000 leaflets will be sent out to parents offering information on the HPV vaccine. See some of what the leaflets contain on hpv.ie.

Read: ‘Women will die needlessly’: Call for push to increase uptake of HPV vaccine

Read: As HPV-linked cancers increase, should boys get the HPV vaccine?

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    Mute Denis Reidy
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    Apr 9th 2015, 12:37 PM

    I’d say Denis O Brien sleeps very well in his tax haven

    105
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    Mute RonanM
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    Apr 9th 2015, 12:38 PM

    Yawn

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    Mute Con Manne
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    Apr 9th 2015, 1:19 PM

    What’s the difference between a light on and a hard on? You can sleep with a light on.

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    Mute Elma Phudd
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    Apr 9th 2015, 1:35 PM

    Con. It’s ‘what’s the difference between light and hard?’!

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    Mute Denis Reidy
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    Apr 9th 2015, 5:29 PM

    Semi?

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    Mute Con Manne
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    Apr 9th 2015, 9:07 PM

    Bungalow.

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    Mute Joseph O'Regan
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    Apr 9th 2015, 1:07 PM

    Lot of people working two jobs to make ends meet in America so not much time for sleep.

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    Mute Elma Phudd
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    Apr 9th 2015, 12:56 PM

    I was obviously rich until the last 3-4 nights and will be poor until the weekend. Can’t feckin sleep at all right now!

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    Mute Tom
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    Apr 9th 2015, 12:59 PM

    I find that glancing at thejournal.ie comments section is both tiring and uplifting.
    You get the same old tiresome whinging from 5 he same contributors and you get to feel superior as well. Great night’s sleep guaranteed.

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    Mute Chris
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    Apr 9th 2015, 1:00 PM

    A lot of them are unconscionable sociopaths – fleecing people actually helps them get a better sleep.

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    Mute Peter Hargan
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    Apr 9th 2015, 1:07 PM

    Food,warmth and a nice comfy bed might just have something to do with it

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    Mute Michael Skellig
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    Apr 9th 2015, 4:21 PM

    The rich have no conscience, hence more sleep.

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    Mute Joanna
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    Apr 9th 2015, 12:39 PM

    Maybe because not rich people need to work more?

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    Mute Top Cat
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    Apr 9th 2015, 12:42 PM

    Or because rich people aren’t out until all hours slangin rocks of crack.

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    Mute saltaroo
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    Apr 9th 2015, 12:46 PM

    Cos that’s what everyone on the poverty line does

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    Mute Whatsup Dok
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    Apr 9th 2015, 1:21 PM

    hmm, I’m poorer than I realised so

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    Mute The Professor
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    Apr 9th 2015, 2:08 PM

    The headline changed again! Like something you would see in the English tabloid papers. I bet the journalists sit around the office high-fiving each other after every effort

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    Mute Caroline Dunlea
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    Apr 9th 2015, 5:01 PM

    Having the few bob eases the mind… D’oh!

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    Mute Noel Falkhall
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    Apr 9th 2015, 3:31 PM

    My wife who is rich beyond belief has tough time sleeping and I the poor one sleep like a log every night so the story is a crock….

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    Mute Colin C
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    Apr 9th 2015, 3:25 PM

    The socialist solution to this is to make sure no one sleeps. Then we will all be equal. And that’s the main thing.

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    Mute William lynn
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    Apr 9th 2015, 10:11 PM

    And what did the study say about sleeping on a bed of money ?

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    Mute Calisto Roberto
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    Jul 29th 2016, 8:12 AM

    Hello everyone i want to share my testimony on how i belong to illuminati member, a friend of mine always give me money…because he was very rich, one day he said he is not going to give me fish that he is going to teach me how to fish, so i was very happy, i never new he was a member of illuminati since we started our friendship! so i was initiated to the illuminati order and few days later i was awarded a contract worth of millions of Dollars, in my business i am doing very well right now, i can now influence people, render financial help etc, if you want to become a member contact us via email: illuminatiorder.co@gmail.com or call +2348137838605

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