HPV Vaccine Commentary in New York Times

Dr. Ben Daitz, a professor at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine has a wonderful and disturbing commentary in today's New York Times about the HPV vaccine Gardasil, which is expected to be approved by the FDA next month.

His commentary "Vaccine Prevents Cervical Cancer. So, What's the Down Side?" offers a moment of thoughtful contemplation before the promotional whirlwind that will likely come when Merck's vaccine gains approval and starts its way down a road of high profits and inequitable distribution. In his commentary, Dr. Daitz asks rhetorically who is going to pay for cervical cancer prevention for the millions of women who can't afford the vaccine (which he writes may cost between $300-$500 for a series of three shots). He answers,

"The scientists and researchers who made and tested these incredibly promising vaccines will probably not be deciding the best way to educate men and women about cervical cancer, or how to plan for affordable global distribution that is now, more than ever, the right thing to do.

Regrettably, some of those decisions have already been made — in pharmaceutical company boardrooms — and we can now see the opening act of another sophisticated "ask your doctor" advertising campaign on the evening news."

Read more - New York Times: Vaccine Prevents Cervical Cancer. So, What's the Down Side?