NPR (and Other Major Media) Spreads Serious Falsehoods About HPV Vaccine

In February, NPR’s All Things Considered aired a segment lamenting the low vaccination rates for the human papillomavirus (HPV) in American children. Apparently doing no independent journalistic research on the subject, both the segment and its companion article simply parroted a recent CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) report. The introduction to the piece called the vaccine “safe and effective” and it went on to claim, “Studies to date have shown no significant safety problems” with the HPV vaccine. This is dangerously misleading information. Many children could be harmed by it. A quick glance at the CDC’s website reveals significant side effects, with more side effects reported than for any other vaccine. Now is the time to tell NPR to report both sides of the HPV vaccine debate. Their latest story on the vaccine left out important information that families across the country need in order to make informed decisions.