The representatives of three non-governmental organizations call on Prime Minister Maia Sandu and Minister of Health, Labor and Social Protection, Ala Nemerenco, to stop promoting mandatory vaccination of ten-year-old girls with Gardasil tetravalent vaccine against human papilloma virus (HPV) as a means of preventing cervical cancer.
In a press conference held at IPN, Elena Bîtcă, from the Orthodox Lawyers Movement, said that the request is to return to the initial situation, when the Gardasil vaccine was only optional. "If there are parents who want to give this vaccine to their children, it’s their call," said Elena Bîtcă, invoking the right of parents to decide on raising and educating their own children.
The president of the Independent Information Center, Natalia Șalari, noted that the vaccine covers only four strains of the virus, but they are many more and thus women are not protected from the disease even if they get the shot. On the other hand, she cited international studies showing that Gardasil comes with multiple serious side reactions, such as infertility, disability and even death.
Alexandru Covalschii, representative of the “Clean Planet” NGO, said that the population is not objectively informed about the effects and possible side reactions of this vaccine. The authorities are reluctant to report that some countries, such as Japan, have discontinued vaccination with Gardasil because of the proven complications.
Mihail Silviu Chirilă, a lawyer and publicist from Romania, said that in 2008 the Romanian Government had the same intention to introduce the Gardasil vaccine. However, the information on the side effects of the vaccine on girls, provided by the USA, prompted authorities to abandon the project. The studies presented at that time showed that there is a risk that 25% of vaccinated women will become sterile. Also, a renowned doctor stated that the prevention rate of cervical cancer is of maximum 44%, and not more than 70%, as the authorities of Chisinau claim, said Mihail Silviu Chirilă.
Cervical cancer develops as a result of the human papilloma virus, which is sexually transmitted, the appeal signatories noted. They wonder why 10-year-old girls who do not have an active sex life should be vaccinated. They also said that there are unofficial reports showing that the number of women diagnosed with cancer annually is around 316. "Under these conditions, how is it possible that on behalf of a number of 300 people out of about one million this issued should be declared a national necessity?", the appeal signatories ask rhetorically.
The Ministry of Health, Labor and Social Security has submitted to the public debates the project to introduce the human papillomavirus vaccine in the National Immunization Calendar of 2019. The health authorities have previously announced the procurement of 40 thousand doses of vaccine, with $ 4.5 per dose, to continue in 2019 the vaccination campaign for girls. The Gardasil tetravalent vaccine is produced by Merck, a US Company. The target group in 2019 will be girls who turned 10 years old, born in 2009. The vaccination will be performed free of charge.
