When the editor of the Washington Independent Review of Books invited me to review a recent narrative book about vaccines, I said yes. It was a natural fit, since I’ve been researching vaccines for the past fifteen years, participating publicly in vaccine debates, and writing about the vexing issue of childhood vaccination for nearly as long.
But when an advanced reading copy came in the mail, I recognized the author’s name as someone who had mentioned me in a January 2013 article in Harper’s Magazine. I flipped through the book, and since her essay from Harper’s was printed there nearly verbatim, my name was also in the book.
I called the editor to ask if that might create the perception of a conflict of interest.
“Do you think you can write a fair and balanced review,” the editor asked me on the phone.
I do not know this writer personally. We’ve never spoken or met. We aren’t connected on social media. We did have a very brief email exchange after her Harper’s article came out — I wrote to thank her for mentioning me. I have never taken money from her, as many scientists who are asked to review industry products routinely do…
I come from the Czech Republic. We have to purchase HPV vaccines privately as this is not a mandatory vaccine in this country yet. When I was about 15 years old there was a tempting discount on the Cervarix vaccine in our country. There were plenty of leaflets lying around in doctors‘ surgeries promoting the vaccine to protect against cervical cancer. My mother believed that this was a good vaccine to get to protect me from cervical cancer later in life.
Before having this vaccine I was in good health. I did not have any allergies and did not use antibiotics. After the third dose I started experiencing symptoms such as fainting, stiff neck, terrible migraines and allergies. I have been using antibiotics very often from this moment on.
My eyes became sensitive to light and my vision was blurred. I had to be excused from school on a regular basis because I was nauseous and dizzy. I had to take strong medication to ease the discomfort and terrible migraines. Even today I still get exhausted quickly and have to rest often. My migraines were so strong at times that I was crying from such pain.
It was a strange migraine because at times I was unable to see properly as everything was blurred. It felt like when you look into the sun or a light bulb and then you cannot see much. It lasted for about 10 minutes then I had strange sounds in my ears and a big migraine followed shortly afterwards. It made my studying complicated because when this happened during an examination I could not see the written text properly and subsequently failed exams. Nobody believed me that my vision was blurred during those exams.
Nobody knew what was wrong with me. I was treated by doctors for migraines. I was being seen by a neurologist regularly until I was 18. The tests came back normal but I was still suffering. Nobody would blame the vaccine at the time.
I had to undergo physiotherapy for my stiff neck. It is getting better now as it has been 6 years since I had the vaccines.
I still get the odd migraines and this has affected my ability to play the piano and drive. I feel safer if someone is sitting next to me in the car so we could swap if I feel dizzy.
After reading more stories relating to HPV vaccines I find myself to be one of the victims. I hope that I will not suffer from more side effects such as possible infertility or cervical cancer in the future.
Marcela,I am so sorry for this difficult time in your life. Thank you for sharing your story, so that others can find assistance, and courage at this time. You and Lucie are pioneers of discovery in the Czech Republic now. I know you have been guided at this time to find good healing, and comfort. TheSaneVax.org team will be able to educate, and guide you in this area.
They have a great list of health practitioners that are experienced with your condition. Here is a link to theFeatured Doctors on this site as well. I wish you all the best, and have full faith that you will come out on top.
I would like to send a little musical gift, this is a favorite group of mine. I thought you would enjoy, and appreciate some serious piano talent.
your friend, jen
Lucie B; Prague, Czech Republic
My name is Pavel and my daughter Lucie received 2 doses of the Cervarix HPV vaccine six years ago. I thought I was doing the right thing in having her immunised to protect her from cervical cancer. As this vaccine is not on the national programme as yet and hopefully never will be I had to pay for it privately and it was quite expensive.
After she received her second dose at age 16 she developed a high fever within 48 hours and a very strong headache. We called an ambulance that took her straight into hospital. The diagnosis by the doctors was encephalitis. She subsequently lost hearing in her right ear indefinitely.
Since then her immune system has been compromised. She seems to be catching every “bug” now and ends up with raised lymph nodes. It takes her a long time to recover from illnesses and she usually needs antibiotics. She has developed permanent migraines and dizziness.
I feel great guilt in causing her lifelong disability because of this vaccine. I cannot comment any further because I am still very upset about this incident.
Pavel, and Lucie, my heart aches for the extreme trial you have been faced with. You have probably come to find the small world amongst those who have been ravaged by the Cervarix, and Gardasil vaccines.
I am relieved to know that you are in contact with thewww.SaneVax.org team. You have undoubtedly been led by a loving Father in Heaven that will guide you every step along the way as you rely on him. There are physicians that have been raised up at this time to help those who have been victimized by this drug. Distance is not a problem with many of them. You can find some here at my blog link, Featured Doctorsas well as through the SaneVax team.
All the best with your work, and please take a minute to enjoy the following music. I hope it will lift your heart at this time.
The gluten debate continues, often with more venom than opposition parties at election time. Why does this molecule ignite so much antagonism? After all, it’s just a food…Or is it?
Let’s start with what gluten is. It’s a protein molecule principally found in wheat. But gluten is not what it used to be. In the late 1960’s, gluten (and wheat) were cross-bred, hybridized and re-engineered to increase the yield of cereal grains. This produced over 40,000 varieties of wheat. It also increased the elasticity of wheat so that the bread would rise and be more chewy and delectable. Who doesn’t like fluffy bread? But as we’ve now learnt, once we start interfering with our food source, things can go a little hay-wire. This is what happened…
