I have held off blogging about this case because I wanted to wait until the evidence was in before I started giving my opinion. When I saw the headlines about schoolgirl Natalie Morton dying after receiving the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine initially my thoughts went to the parents and what they must be going through. It is devastating when someone dies so young and only natural for the family and anyone connected to the case to want answers as soon as possible. That desire for answers however should not cloud our judgment or make us jump to any conclusions, particularly when the emotions of a family and repercussions for the general public’s confidence in vaccinations are involved. However the media didn’t see it like that, they wanted the headlines, they wanted the horror story and this is the result:

The Sun: Cancer vaccine girl dies

The Mirror: GIRL OF 14 DIES AFTER CERVICAL CANCER JAB

The Guardian: Girl, 14, dies after school cervical cancer jab: Three other pupils report dizziness and nausea: Vaccine batch quarantined as ‘precautionary measure’

The Express: Girl, 14, dies after taking cervical cancer vaccine

The Evening Chronicle: Probe On Girl Vaccine Tragedy

BBC Website: Cancer jab alert after girl dies

The Daily Mail: NHS Trust suspends cervical cancer vaccinations after girl, 14, dies within hours of jab

I could go on but I won’t. Every single one of these implies that Natalie’s death was a direct result of the vaccine. I think the Evening Chronicle is the worst with their ‘Vaccine Tragedy’. Every single news source got duped by the old post-hoc ergo propter hoc logical fallacy, simply because it made a good story. It sickens me that a girl’s death makes for a ‘good story’ but that’s the truth of it. It fits in with the idea that they have to report both sides of the argument, this was an anecdotal story as contrast to the wealth of evidence we have that shows vaccines are safe. Except there was no story to tell, they made it up or at least fabricated an issue where one didn’t exist. It doesn’t matter that they have now reported that Natalie’s death had nothing to do with the HPV vaccine, no link should ever have been made. It is irresponsible reporting plain and simple, but the papers don’t care, they got their headline.

So for all of us, particularly Dr Richard Halvorsen over at the Daily Mail, here is a little reminder of what vaccines do for us courtesy of the NHS: Behind the Headlines website.

What are the benefits of the HPV jab?

It’s been calculated that the UK HPV vaccination programme will ultimately save 400 lives a year. Around 3,000 women a year are currently diagnosed with cervical cancer, and the disease kills more than 1,000 women a year in the UK.

Half of all sexually active women will be infected by a strain of HPV in their lifetime. These infections cause more than 99% of cervical cancer cases and a range of other cancers.

The HPV vaccine protects against two types of HPV: strains 16 and 18. Together these cause around 70% of cervical cancers.

Why the MMR vaccine should be given 

Measles, mumps and rubella are diseases that have serious complications:

• Measles causes a range of symptoms, which can include ear infection, bronchitis, convulsions (fits) and brain damage. Measles can be fatal.
• Mumps used to be the main cause of viral meningitis in children. It also causes temporary deafness, miscarriage, inflammation of the pancreas and pain and swelling in the testicles in men.
• Rubella can lead to painful joints, blood disorders and swelling of the brain (encephalitis). It damages unborn babies and may cause miscarriage if women catch the disease while pregnant. Babies born with congenital rubella syndrome may have some degree of deafness, blindness and damage to their heart or brain.

Why childhood immunisation is necessary 

Childhood immunisation is necessary to protect all children from potentially dangerous diseases. All the diseases that babies and children are vaccinated against have the potential to cause serious disabilities. Some can be fatal.

Immunisation also reduces the potential spread of diseases in the community. Childhood immunisation has had a dramatic effect on improving the health of the population in the UK and worldwide.

Childhood immunisation prevents a large variety of diseases. These include:

Tetanus

An infection found in the soil that causes severe muscle contractions and breathing difficulties.

Polio (short for poliomyelitis)

A virus that first attacks the gut (bowel) but then travels to the nervous system. Polio can cause paralysis (when you can’t move your limbs) in one or more parts of your body.

Pneumococcal infections

These can affect anyone, but young children are at an increased risk of developing serious complications such as meningitis.

Diphtheria

A highly contagious disease caused by a bacterium called Corynebacterium diphtheriae. It causes a serious throat and chest infection.

Meningitis C

Caused by the meningococcus group c bacterium. In rare cases it can lead to blood poisoning and serious types of meningitis.

Hib (full name is haemophilus influenzae type b)

A bacterium that can cause pneumonia and meningitis.

Whooping cough (pertussis) 

Causes prolonged coughing that can be very distressing. In children, complications can include brain damage.