Toronto Star criticized over HPV vaccine story

Taking shots over the HPV vaccine. The Toronto Star is facing criticism over a front-page article that raised concerns about the safety of Gardasil, the drug that's given free to students across the country to protect them against cervical cancer.

Hundreds of thousands of doses of the HPV vaccine have been doled out to girls -- and sometimes boys -- free of charge across Canada. But this week the Toronto newspaper ran a story that said Gardasil, the most common HPV vaccine and the one used throughout Canada, has a "dark side."

It cited 60 cases of Canadians who "experienced debilitating illnesses after inoculation." It also suggested that those recieving the shot weren't properly informed of side effects or had their concerns brushed off by health officials.

The paper stands by its story, but that hasn't stopped critics from attacking the article for what they say is a lack of scientific evidence.

"I think that article is the equivalent of the Oprah show with Jenny McCarthy," says Dr. Jennifer Gunter, referring to a controversial segment Oprah Winfrey did on her program in 2007 in which celebrity Jenny McCarthy was given a platform to voice her fears that vaccines cause autism. "When we have a large amount of data on vaccine safety and that's all basically ignored, or given two sentences in an article, that to me doesn't seem fair."

Dr. Gunter is a Canadian-trained obstetrician/gynecologist based in San Fransisco who wrote an online piece yesterday that is being widely circulated on social media titled Toronto Star claims HPV vaccine unsafe. Science says the Toronto Star is wrong

"No medication is risk-free. It's also not risk-free to drive across a bridge or walk across the street. But I think what happens when you have these kind of articles is they magnify the risk and make it seem like it's common, and not exceedingly rare."

Dr. Gunter points to a study published in the British Medical Journal that looked at 1-million girls, and found none of the problems outlined in the article. 

In its defence, the Toronto Star says its article specifically stated there is no conclusive evidence that Gardasil caused any death or illness; and that the vaccine has been enormously helpful for the vast majority of people who have taken it. The reporters say their concern is a lack of transparency around the drug; that there is not enough public information, and that several of the girls they spoke to felt it was "pushed on them" by school officials who understated the potential risks. 

"That's certainly not my take away from that article,"Dr. Gunter says, pointing to the title: HPV vaccine Gardasil has a dark side, Star investigation finds. "There was very little given to all the safety data."

Dr. Gunter is not the only critic to raise concerns about the Star piece. Many find its timing especially egregious. A measles outbreak that started in California in December has spread throughout the United States and infected at least 120 people, frustrating public health officials who say that unfounded vaccination fears are helping spread preventable diseases. 

"I think especially now that we're seeing a measles outbreak due to non-vaccination that reporters have to do due diligence when they are presenting these types of articles," Dr. Gunter said.

She adds that the medical research community is as concerned about drug safety as the general public. "Scientists want the truth. If a vaccine caused problems, I'd want to know about it ... Vaccines are among the most well-studied vaccinations that we have." 

The Toronto Star sent us a statement, which reads in part:

"This story is about transparency of information concerning a vaccine that is given to hundreds of thousands of Canadian girls. This story certainly does not conclude that the vaccine caused any of the suspected side effects, and this is made clear throughout. And in fact, it offers several voices and ample evidence that the vaccine is considered by leading health authorities to be safe. The story is neither anti-vaccine nor pro-vaccine. As with many of our other articles published as part of our ongoing investigation into drug safety, this one is mainly about transparency. In this case, transparency for girls and their parents so that they get of all the available risk and benefit information."

To hear more about the debate take a listen to our interview.