A cancer doctor has launched a controversial petition to protest against Infanrix hexa, a combination vaccine that is temporarily dominating the market due to the shortage of other vaccines.
The petition, launched by Professor Henri Joyeux, has already collected more than 350,000 signatures. Addressed to the Minister of Health, it aims to protest against the de facto monopoly of Infanrix hexa, a combined vaccine, which to compulsory vaccination Diphtheria-Tetanus-Poliomyelitis adjoins optional vaccination (but recommended) against three other diseases.
Professor Henri Joyeux, cancer surgeon at the Montpellier University Hospital and former president of the conservative association Families de France, aims to challenge parents on a sensitive subject: the vaccination of their young children. In France, compulsory vaccination coverage is limited to diphtheria, tetanus and polio. This was the subject of the famous DT-Polio vaccine, whose production has ceased since 2008, due to allergy problems.
Shortage problem
The choices available to parents now are combination vaccines with wider coverage: tetravalent (Diphtheria-Tetanus-Polio-Pertussis), pentavalent (Diphtheria-Tetanus-Polio-Pertussis-Hib), or hexavalent (Diphtheria-Tetanus-Polio) -Pertussis-Hib-Hepatitis).
Problem: tetravalent and pentavalent vaccines are currently out of stock, due in particular to a pertussis epidemic in Anglo-Saxon countries. All that remains is the hexavalent vaccine, which ensures compulsory vaccination coverage while also protecting against Haemophilus influenzae type B, a bacterium responsible in particular for recurrent ear infections, and hepatitis B.
An argued response
This is where, for Professor Joyeux’s petition, the shoe pinches. In his petition, hosted on the site of a Belgian association for the defense of natural medicine called the Institute for the Protection of Natural Health, he formulates a list of grievances against Infanrix hexa. The vaccine contains aluminum and formaldehyde, two adjuvants that he considers dangerous to health, and would cost much more than other vaccines.
In a long article entitled ” DT-Polio vaccine: why we should not sign Professor Joyeux’s petition », From the scientific blog Measles Epidemiology and broadcast on Rue89, two anonymous experts respond to the arguments developed in the petition. Recalling, in particular, that the High Council of Public Health concluded lack of conclusive data on the dangerousness of aluminum in vaccines.
Free replacement solution
In addition, the National Medicines Safety Agency (Ansm) has implemented, since May, a replacement solution to the hexavalent vaccine. The doctor can then order, from the Sanofi Pasteur MSD laboratory, a DT-Vax + Imovax Polio combo kit supplied free of charge, which allows parents who wish to ensure compulsory vaccination coverage (Diphtheria-Tetanus and Polio) without vaccinating against additional diseases.
There is no doubt that the health authorities will react to clarify the debate and calm the controversy. In the meantime, the choice available to parents is clear: hexavalent vaccine (Diphtheria-Tetanus-Polio-Pertussis-Hib-Hepatitis B) or a combined kit (Diphtheria-Tetanus and Polio). And our children will be well vaccinated.
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