By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
Local doctors challenged allegations over side effects of a vaccine against cervical cancer which could save up to tens of thousands of women.
Some foreign media as well as Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA) reported ``serious side effects'' including death, joint and muscle pain, fatigue, physical weakness and general malaise. The Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (KSOG) spoke out that the allegations are exaggerated.
Earlier this month, major media such as CNN, MBC and others said that Gardasil, the American FDA approved human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine, has such side effects. It alerted many people over the vaccine costing around 600,000 won here. The KFDA also said about 40 cases involving the side effects have been reported since its commercialization in February.
However, the KSOG refuted Friday that efficacy of the vaccine outshines its side effects. ``Only less than 5 percent of those injected said they felt itchiness, soreness or dizziness, compared with some 20 percent for other vaccines,'' Dr. Nam Joo-hyun of Asan Medical Center said.
``You feel a bit sick or dizzy when taking malaria pills, but that doesn't stop you from taking it. Also the exact relationship between death and the vaccine have not been clarified. Just linking the two is very unscientific,'' he said.
Obstetricians said the vaccine is necessary for all women and is the most effective way to prevent cervical cancer while encouraging people to get vaccinated.
Cervical cancer is the second most diagnosed cancer among Korean women. The patient must have her uterus removed and in worst cases can die. However, experts say the disease is one of the most preventable cancers in the world.
HPV is said to be behind 70 percent of cases of the disease. The majority of the virus types are transmitted through sexual contact and infect the anogenital region. The virus does not significantly affect males.
Doctors recommend that women take Gardasil injections between 9-26 years old. ``Of course the vaccine isn't 100 percent effective, but I think it is the best way so far,'' Nam said.