Halt HPV vaccination of schoolgirls
THE EDITOR, Sir: This is an open letter to Prime Minister Andrew Holness.
YOUR GOVERNMENT has decided to carry out a mass vaccination of girls with the HPV Gardasil vaccine.
No compelling reason has been given for this mass vaccination of more than 22,000 young girls, nor has there been sufficient attempt at public discussion to explain the reasons for the vaccination campaign, especially since there are reports from all over the world of injected persons, including children, suffering horrific side effects, including death.
Having brought it to your attention that there can be serious side effects, I think it is your duty to carry out your own personal investigation into the claims.
What is your greater duty, however, is to ensure that your Government does not use pressure or deceit to carry out this vaccination campaign.
There should NOT be ONE vaccination carried out without the EXPLICIT written consent of parents.
The Government, or Ministry of Health, specifically, must admit to the parents that there are concerns about possible side effects.
The Government should also make it clear that the vaccination is not mandatory, as was stated by the minister of health, Dr Christopher Tufton.
And, since the health minister is pushing the vaccination programme on the basis that it is safe, the Government should have no problem in guaranteeing that if there should be harm to any child, there will be immediate compensation and responsibility accepted by the Government for medical care.
As prime minister, even at this eleventh hour, you have a duty to protect the rights and welfare of the people, to ensure that sound suggestions are abided by, even if it means suspending the programme.
Failure to exercise duty of care makes you, as the superior commander, personally, legally and politically liable for any damage our girls might suffer.
I invite you to expeditiously deal with this matter in the interest of the female children of this country. LLOYD D’AGUILAR justicenowja@gmail.com