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Seanad
‹ Order of Business

HPV vaccine concerns

Summary

Senator Paschal Mooney raises adverse reports concerning Gardasil and announces plans for an all-party motion and further discussion.

Mandate has given it a qualified welcome because Lidl, as everybody knows, does not recognise trade unions. I caution the Labour Party that while it is, of course, great news for workers in Lidl, there are other issues, as Mandate has pointed out, concerning contracts and terms of employment, which also need to be addressed.

The main reason I am contributing is that my colleague, the leader of the Fianna Fáil group, has been raising for a number of months the issue of vaccination awareness. Specifically, he has referred to the Gardasil injection given to young girls aged between 12 and 17 years, ostensibly to help them to avoid contracting cervical cancer in their later years. We met a support group, the website of which is regret.ie. The website contains testimonials from girls who have had the vaccination in Ireland. There are related international testimonials on a website called sanevax.org. I am serving notice that Fianna Fáil Senators intend formulating a motion to invite the Minister for Health, Deputy Leo Varadkar, who has refused to meet this support group to explain to the House national policy on the vaccination process. At the time of vaccination, the HSE does not provide for parents the patient information leaflet which accompanies the medication. It states the girl should tell her health care provider if she experiences any of the known side effects, of which there are 21. I have testimonials from young girls aged between 12 and 17 years who have been confined to their beds, are in psychiatric units, are suffering from terminal fatigue or who have had their fledgling football and sports careers disrupted to the point where they can no longer play games, all because of this vaccination. The medical profession is protecting the pharmaceutical companies by denying there are adverse side effects. The HSE is acting disgracefully by not providing the information leaflet. If we purchase medicine in a pharmacy, we will receive an information leaflet explaining what the medication is, how it is to be used and the possible side effects. That information is not being provided for parents before they sign the consent form to allow their young girls - some as young as 12 years - to receive the vaccine. I know of one girl of 15 years who, three days after she had received the vaccined, collapsed and is now in a psychiatric unit. This is an appalling vista. I could not believe what I was listening to. The more I have delved into this issue, the more I believe it is a national disgrace. I am not calling for the vaccine to be stopped as it is of benefit, but, with my colleagues, I will continue to ask for full information as provided by the pharmaceutical company to be given. That is a basic requirement in order that parents can make an informed choice. The HSE has its own old leaflet which is only whitewash. The vaccine is obviously having a serious adverse effect on the lives of young girls, not just in Ireland but also worldwide. There are now over 100 identified in this-----

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Paddy Burke An Cathaoirleach Fine Gael

The Senator is way over time.

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At least 100 have been identified in this country and there are many more. There are parents who probably think their daughter is unique, yet they are part of this growing pattern. I am putting the House on notice that we will table a motion which I hope will receive all-party support.

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