Finian McGrath TD embroiled in controversy over HPV vaccine

Super Junior Minister for Health Finian McGrath TD has been embroiled in controversy following his remarks made about the HPV vaccine.

According to the Sunday Times, McGrath called for a withdrawal of Gardasil (used to prevent HPV) prior to his appointment to cabinet last year, saying he had “major concerns” about the vaccine.

However, Health Minister Simon Harris has this afternoon released a statement saying that McGrath “supports” the new campaign and agrees that “the people qualified to give advice on vaccines are medical professionals and they would encourage parents to take advice from them.”

This follows the launch of the 2017/18 Schools HPV Vaccine Programme and Information Campaign on Wednesday, which will see 40,000 information packs delivered to schools across the country ahead of the HSE Vaccination Teams starting their scheduled post primary school visits in September where first-year girls will get the first of two doses of the vaccine.

On Wednesday, Minister Harris reiterating his request for people to be wary of vaccination advice they read on social media, asking amateurs to “butt out.”

The amount of young women availing of the vaccine has dropped from 87% to 50% since its induction in 2010 due to opposition from anti-vaccination groups; however no scientific research has been able to back up arguments from these groups.

This is not the first time Minister Harris has warned people of pseudoscientific advice on social media.

Speaking at the Irish Medical Organisation’s annual meeting in April, he slammed “scaremongers” who share “uninformed nonsense” on the HPV vaccine.

Despite Minister Harris’ statement, Doctor Ciara Kelly says that the doubt instilled by McGrath’s comments may have already caused damage and that women may now be afraid to avail of the vaccine.

Every year over 90 women die from cervical cancer. Over 280 women – many young – need treatment for invasive cervical cancer. Over 6,500 women will need hospital treatment for a precancerous form of cervical cancer.