There is growing concern over the possible risks associated with the Garadasil vaccine, a 3-shot series intended to prevent four types of the human papilloma virus, commonly referred to as HPV. While it is unclear to government officials exactly what risks the HPV vaccine Gardasil poses, as side effects are still being evaluated, thousands of patients have claimed to suffer Gardasil side effects in the last few years it has been available.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), drug regulators have receieved 11,916 adverse vaccine reports with regard to the Gardasil vaccine. This number, some health advocates say is three times greater than the number of reports received for other vaccines, such as the one for meningitis, which is given at the same time. According to the CDC, only six percent of these nearly 12,000 Gardasil injury reports were serious enough to warrant medical treatment. However, at least 32 of these reports involved the sudden and unexplained deaths of otherwise young women, mostly in their teens.

If you or a loved one has suffered serious illness after or during treatment with the Gardasil vaccine, you may have the legal right to seek compensation for your losses and suffering. Please contact our qualified attorneys for a free evaluation of your case to help you determine the best way to protect and exercise your rights. Please read on to learn more about the Gardasil vaccine, the serious injuries that have been reported by the recipients of this new vaccine, the common Gardasil side effects, and your legal rights.

What is Gardasil?

Gardasil is a relatively new vaccine that is approved to prevent four types of the human papilloma virus (HPV) in girls and women aged 9 to 26. It is approved for this age range because 1) this is the group in which the vaccine was studied and 2) because this is the group most likely to contract HPV through sexual contact. It is important to note that Gardasil is not a treatment for women who already have HPV.

Gardasil is thought to prevent four types of HPV: types 6, 11, 16, and 18. While there are 130 types of HPv, 30 to 40 of which can cause cervical cancer, the types affected by Gardasil are the most common culprits of cancer and genital warts. HPV types 6 and 11 cause 90% of all cases of genital warts. Cervical cancer is caused by types 16 and 18 in 70% of all cases.

The Gardasil 3-shot series is given over a period of six months, with the first shot at month one, the second two months later, and the third 4 months after that.

Prior to its approval for treatment in the general population, Gardasil was tested on 21,000 girls and women in five clinical trials over a period of less than four years. Many experts are worried that the long-term effects of the Gardasil vaccine are unknown and may pose potential health risks. Furthermore, some evidence indicates that the potency of Gardasil declines after four years, posing the same risks of infection as those never treated with Gardasil.

What is HPV?

HPV, or the human papilloma virus, is a collection of viruses that infect the epidermis and mucous membranes. In women, some strains can cause cancer of the cervix, vagina, vulva, and anus. In men, some strains can cause penis and anus cancers. Other strains do not cause cancer but do cause genital warts. Of the 130 identified types of HPV, 30 to 40 are sexually transmitted, some of which can lead to precancerous lesions and invasive cancer. While HPV infection is the cause of nearly all cervical cancer cases, infection does not usually lead to disease.

In most cases, HPV does not produce symptoms and is found only during regular Pap smears in women. Once diagnosed, it is possible to treat cervical cancer through surgery and other methods.

Gardasil Side Effect Reports

Over 700 young teens and women have reported suffering serious side effects during or after Gardasil treatment. Worse, at least 32 women have died unexplained deaths that may have been caused by the Gardasil vaccine. Skimming recent news reports and other websites, one finds dozens of stories of devastated families whose daughters have suffered serious and unexplained illnesses following the onset of Gardasil treatment.

One teen developed a progressively worsening and painful autoimmune disease called myofascitis after her first dose of Gardasil. Once a high school varsity athlete, she now must take handfuls of pills daily just to stave off debilitating pain. Another young girl was found dead in her bedroom 18 days after her third shot of Gardisil. Since being vaccinated, some young girls develop seizures and epilepsy. Yet another developed Bell’s Palsy that paralyzed the right side of her face and eventually led to Grave’s disease in the middle of her series of Gardasil injections.

While no one knows with certainty if Gardasil was the direct cause of these young girls’ tragic illnesses, many people worry that this vaccine carries unknown and potentially grave risks.

The CDC acknowledges the following serious illnesses that have been reported in relation to Gardasil:

• Blood clots (venous thromboembolism)
• Guillian-Barre Syndrome (an autoimmune disorder affecting the peripheral nerves)
• Transverse myelitis (inflammation of the spinal cord)
• Unexplained sudden death

Symptoms of the first three of these serious illnesses are as follows:

Blood Clots

• swelling of the affected area
• gradual onset of pain
• redness of the area
• area is warm to the touch
• leg pain worsening with foot bending
• leg cramps, particularly at night
• whitish or bluish skin discoloration

Guillian-Barre Syndrome

• progressive weakness that begins in the lower limbs and ascends
• numbness, weakness, and/or tingling in the legs and later the arms and face
• trouble swallowing
• drooling
• respiratory problems
• deep aching pain
• loss of temperature perception
• bladder dysfunction
• paralysis
• blood pressure and heart rate abnormalities

Transverse myelitis

• fever
• headaches
• tingling
• pain or loss of sensation
• loss of bladder control

Other serious injuries that have been reported in conjunction with the Gardasil vaccine include:

• Epilepsy
• Seizures
• Myofascitis
• Bells Palsy
• Paralysis
• Heart Attack
• Cardiac arrest
• Stroke
• Graves Disease
• ALS (Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or Lou Gehrig’s Disease)

In addition to these mentioned side effects, it is possible that Gardasil poses the risk of other serious injuries. Any unexplained condition that develops after the onset of Gardasil administration should be reported to a qualified medical professional.

Furthermore, Gardasil side effects should be reported. There are three monitoring systems that take reports of Gardasil side effects: the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD), and the Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment Network (CISA).

Other serious symptoms of a Gardasil injury

According to Merck, the makers of Gardasil, any of the following symptoms during or following Gardasil treatment may indicate a serious side effect and should warrant medical attention:

• Swollen glands
• Fatigue or weakness
• Leg pain
• Shortness of breath
• Joint pain
• Chest pain
• Aching muscles
• Seizure
• Severe stomach ache

Common Gardasil Side Effects

In addition to the serious side effects mentioned above, other common but less serious side effects are associated with the Gardasil vaccine.

Fainting (syncope) is one of the most common Gardasil side effects that may pose substantial risks to the patient. Because of this risk, women receiving the vaccine are to remain in the administrating hospital or doctor’s office for at least 15 minutes following an injection, should fainting occur. However, fainting caused by Gardasil can develop later that day or the next.

Allergic reaction is also a potential threat of the Gardasil vaccine. Symptoms of an allergic reaction can include trouble breathing, hives, rash, and wheezing. The vaccine may also provoke a local reaction at the injection site, which can produce symptoms of swelling, itching, bruising, redness, and increased sensitivity.

Other common side effects of the Gardasil vaccine include:

• Dizziness
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Pain
• Fever
• Headache

Women who are pregnant should not get the Gardasil vaccine. Women who were pregnant at the time they received Gardasil have made reports of spontaneous abortion and fetal anomalies.

CDC and FDA stance on Gardasil Side Effects

At present, the CDC and FDA (Food and Drug Administration) state that the evidence of serious Gardasil side effects is inconclusive. Thus, they continue to assert that the Gardasil vaccine is “safe, effective, and important.” The CDC is conducting its own analysis of the adverse events reporting data.

Perhaps, in the future the risks associated with Gardasil will be better understood. In the meantime, it is possible that this vaccine has caused and continues to pose the threat of serious illness and death to thousands of young healthy women.

Gardasil Injury and Your Legal Rights

Many young women and families who face serious illness and suffering following Gardasil treatment feel they have nowhere to turn in the wake of this devastating development. While such action cannot take away your pain, it may be helpful to contact a qualified Gardasil attorney who can evaluate the details of your case to determine your legal rights and options. You may be able to seek compensation for your medical bills, losses, pain and suffering through a Gardasil lawsuit.

Please contact our qualified Gardasil lawyers here.