Committee
Public Petitions Committee 27 October 2015
27 Oct 2015 · S4 · Public Petitions Committee
Item of business
New Petitions
Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (Safety) (PE1574)
Freda Birrell
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In February 2014, Japan held a round-table discussion over two-and-a-half days. There was a symposium to begin with and then scientists and doctors from both sides met in the Japanese Parliament and had an open, honest debate on the subject. Our Dr Lee, who I know has sent in representations on my behalf, was there. At that time, Japan was seeing what was happening to young Japanese girls as psychosomatic. That word was used. Dr Lee, who has been a pathologist for more than 50 years, had carried out an analysis of the post-mortem results for a young New Zealand girl who died six months after she was last vaccinated, and what he discovered in her blood and spleen tissues was the HPV DNA. He said, “You are all saying that this is psychosomatic. Will all of you who regard these results as being psychosomatic put up your hands?” Not one hand could go up. In Japan, the politicians who were for the vaccine and those who were very concerned about it discussed it at length, and they put the young Japanese girls first. Scientific papers have come out on what they believe to be a neurological condition that has come from the vaccine, and they have set up the 21-year study. That is their way of trying to find out the truth. That is what came from Tokyo. In France the following May, there was a similar open discussion, and the people there concentrated a lot on aluminium. There is a difference between aluminium being eaten, which can happen through the use of pots and through the environment, and aluminium being injected into the body. Professor Chris Exley, who has also given me support, is the top expert on aluminium in the United Kingdom. In France, they discussed having vaccines that contain no aluminium. Something has to happen. We now have an Irish politician who is very concerned. He has met Irish families and heard their stories, and he has spoken out and said that something has to be done. The families want to meet the Irish health minister—that is their request.
In the same item of business
The Convener
Lab
The next petition is PE1574, by Freda Birrell on behalf of the UK Association of HPV Vaccine Injured Daughters on human papillomavirus vaccine safety. Member...
Freda Birrell (UK Association of HPV Vaccine Injured Daughters)
His daughter has had a relapse.
The Convener
Lab
I am sorry to hear that. Please pass on our regards. I will hand over to you, Mrs Birrell. You have five minutes or so to introduce the subject, and then we...
Freda Birrell
Thank you. On the off-chance, convener, I have brought a one-page summary relating to Lucy Hinks, copies of which are available if members would like to take...
The Convener
Lab
Thank you. We will have a look at that.
Freda Birrell
I thank the committee for allowing me to provide additional information relating to my request for a round-table discussion to be held in Edinburgh between s...
The Convener
Lab
Thank you very much. Chic, do you want to come in at this point?
Chic Brodie (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
Thank you, convener. In the past two-and-a-half years since I initially met Freda Birrell and others who are involved, I have done some personal research on ...
The Convener
Lab
Thanks very much. I want to ask a direct question, Mrs Birrell. Who should call the round-table together? Whose responsibility should it be to invite people...
Freda Birrell
I would like to think that, after listening to what I have said and perhaps asking many more questions and getting more evidence, the committee will be influ...
Chic Brodie
SNP
When I had the privilege of being a member of this committee, we dealt more widely with the issue of mesh implants. After what Freda Birrell has said, it mig...
Angus MacDonald
SNP
Good morning, Mrs Birrell. The committee quite recently considered a petition from Jamie Rae on behalf of the Throat Cancer Foundation that called on the Sco...
Freda Birrell
In Australia and America, boys are included on the programme. I am not quite sure, but there is a possibility of it happening in New Zealand, and I am aware ...
Angus MacDonald
SNP
But there is evidence.
Freda Birrell
Yes. I know of one particular family in America whose twin son and daughter were vaccinated at the same time. Both of them were taken seriously ill and devel...
Angus MacDonald
SNP
Thank you.
Jackson Carlaw
Con
Good morning. Mrs Birrell and I have met on a number of occasions over the years, and I applaud her for the focus that she has brought to this issue. It is ...
Freda Birrell
In February 2014, Japan held a round-table discussion over two-and-a-half days. There was a symposium to begin with and then scientists and doctors from both...
Jackson Carlaw
Con
Sorry, but may I interrupt? I think that I get the drift. Presumably, however, the fact that those discussions have taken place in those other legislatures w...
Freda Birrell
I would not be happy if there was no progress. The reason why I say that is that somebody has to realise that young girls worldwide—in Scotland as well—are i...
Jackson Carlaw
Con
I understand the perseverance with which you have approached the issue, Ms Birrell. You are convinced, from the body of evidence to which you have been expos...
Freda Birrell
Yes.
Jackson Carlaw
Con
So the issue at hand is really the Scottish Government’s attitude to the vaccine.
David Birrell
The real issue is to get these girls properly treated.
Freda Birrell
Yes—I have said that. As David says, my main issue is to get these girls properly treated. One of the things that I and many of my colleagues have discovered...
Jackson Carlaw
Con
As I recall, you had the father of one of these girls present in the Parliament at a cross-party round-table discussion that took place.
Freda Birrell
That is correct.
Jackson Carlaw
Con
So that is the secondary thing. Your concern is the attitude to the vaccine and also the appropriate treatment of those people who have been adversely affect...
Freda Birrell
It is, and it is to ask why this is happening. It may not be happening to all, but why is this happening to a good portion of the young people in this countr...
Jackson Carlaw
Con
No. I said that, coincident with the time since the vaccine was introduced, there has been a fall in the number of people who have cervical cancer. I was not...