Catholic bishop said HPV vaccine could promote promiscuity

A Catholic bishop in Ireland has issued an apology after warning that a cervical cancer vaccine could lead to promiscuity.

Bishop of Waterford and Lismore Phonsie Cullinan last week hit out at efforts to prevent the human papilloma virus (HPV) among women by saying ‘we have to do better than to give our boys condoms and our girls injections at the age of 12’.

He claimed the vaccine ‘lulls girls into false sense of security’ and encourages sexual activity, adding: ‘Prevention, the number one and most effective protection, is abstinence. A good old traditional value.’

Bishop of Waterford and Lismore Phonsie Cullinan has issued an apology after warning that a cervical cancer vaccine could lead to promiscuity

WHAT IS THE HPV VIRUS?

Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the name for a group of viruses that affect your skin and the moist membranes lining your body.

There are more than 100 types of HPV. Around 30 of which can affect the genital area. Genital HPV infections are common and highly contagious.

They are spread during sexual intercourse and skin-to-skin contact of the genital areas.

They can cause genital warts – the second most common sexually transmitted infection in England.

While it is also known to cause cervical cancer by creating an abnormal tissue growth.

Other types of HPV infection can cause minor problems, such as common skin warts and verrucas.

All girls aged 12-13 are offered a vaccination against HPV by the NHS to help protect them against cervical cancer since the NHS launched a programme in 2008.

Gardasil protects against two types of HPV, which are responsible for more than 70 per cent of cervical cancers in the UK.

Women aged 25-64 are offered cervical screening to check for abnormal cells in the cervix.

It’s estimated that about 400 lives could be saved every year in the UK as a result of vaccinating girls before they are infected with HPV.

Source: NHS Choices 

After being roundly criticised by the country’s Health Minister and medical chiefs, the senior cleric issued a statement accepting that he had not been fully informed.

‘I wish to apologise for contributing to any misinformation, or indeed for causing upset to anyone, concerning use of the human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccines,’ he said.

Bishop Cullinan said he initially spoke out after parents had raised concerns with him about the HPV vaccine.

‘My intention was solely motivated to protect people from the HPV,’ he said.

‘I was not fully informed about the vaccination programme and I can see now how HPV vaccines can contribute greatly to lowering the rate of cervical cancer.

‘As I have learnt, possession of full information is paramount on this vital health issue.’

Health Minister Simon Harris had described the bishop’s initial remarks as ‘ignorant’.

The country’s Health Service Executive, which has previously warned parents about conflicting and misleading information, said his criticism of the vaccination programme could endanger women’s lives.

The HPV vaccine used in Ireland is Gardasil. It is said to protect against two high risk types of the virus, one of the most common sexually transmitted infections.

It prevents HPV 16 and 18, which cause 90 per cent of genital warts, and is used in more than 25 European countries, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Vaccinations against the HPV virus fell by half last year in Ireland amid scares over side-effects but the uptake has since stabilised.

The HPV vaccine used in Ireland is Gardasil, which is said to protect against two high risk types of the virus

The HPV vaccine used in Ireland is Gardasil, which is said to protect against two high risk types of the virus

Since 2010 more than 230,000 girls have been vaccinated, with about 1,000 reporting adverse reactions.

Most commonly, people fainted when injected or showed gastrointestinal symptoms, malaise, headache, dizziness and injection site reactions.

Other allergic-type reactions have been reported, including skin rashes, hives and flushing and isolated reports of more severe hypersensitivity-type reactions and some reports of persisting or chronic fatigue.

Ireland has one of the highest cervical cancer rates in Europe with more than 90 women dying from the disease every year and more than 280 others needing surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk