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Less than a year after it was approved by the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA), a vaccination designed to prevent
cervical cancer in girls and women has reportedly caused three
deaths and caused serious, adverse reactions in more than a
thousand others.
Gardasil, manufactured by Merck & Co., is for use in girls ages
9 to 26, and targets the human papillomavirus (HPV) strains linked
to most cervical cancers. In June 2006, the FDA approved Gardasil,
the first vaccine designed to prevent cervical cancer in girls and
women. In May 2007, the public interest group Judicial Watch released
documents obtained from the FDA, under the provisions of the Freedom
of Information Act, detailing 1,637 reports of adverse reactions to
Gardasil. Three deaths were related to the vaccine.
One physician's assistant reported that a female patient "died of a
blood clot three hours after getting the Gardasil vaccine." Two other
reports, on girls 12 and 19, reported deaths relating to heart problems
and/or blood clotting.
Of the 1,637 adverse reactions to Gardasil reported to the FDA since
the drug was on the market, there were 371 serious reactions. Of the
42 women who received the vaccine while pregnant, 18 experienced side
effects ranging from spontaneous abortion to fetal abnormalities.
Among the postmarketing commitments Merck made upon receiving FDA
approval for Gardasil, the company committed to compiling a registry
of pregnant women who have received the vaccine, to monitor any effect
the vaccine might have on pregnancies. The registry has more than 300
pregnant women exposed to the vaccine, and Merck says that the registry
has received no reports of congenital anomalies.
Side effects to Gardasil, as published by Merck:
- Pelvic pain
- Severe stomach pain
- Pain, swelling or stiffness in joints
- Pain, swelling, redness or itching at the injection site
- Mild fever
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, upset stomach
- Dizziness
- Runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough
- Muscle pain
According to the FDA data obtained by Judicial Watch, more serious side
effects have occurred in Gardasil patients, including paralysis, Bells
Palsy, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, and seizures.
Merck, the FDA and also the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) add that the three deaths were unlikely to have been caused by
Gardasil. The CDC said that two of the women were taking birth-control
pills and died from blood clots, a known risk of contraceptive medication.
The third, a 12-year-old girl, suffered from heart disease and died from
a heart inflammation brought on by the flu.
About 16 states are considering mandating that Gardasil be given to
public school children. The state of Virginia passed such a bill into law.
Since its June 2006 introduction, Merck has distributed more than five
million doses of Gardasil in the U.S. The vaccine is administered in
three shots over a period of six months.
See your doctor if you have experienced serious side effects associated
with Gardasil. In addition, it may be important to contact an attorney
who can help you protect your legal rights. Please keep in mind that
there may be time limits within which you must commence suit. If you
have been injured by Gardasil side effects you may be entitled to
compensation.
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We bring this important information
to your attention to better educate you about the risks and dangers of
prescription and pharmaceutical drugs.
Recent Gardasil News
Parents Have Mixed Feelings On GardasilWETM-TV, NY - May 8, 2008For some parents deciding to have their daughter vaccinated with Gardasil was an easy choice. “The reason I got it for my girls is because I ended up having ... |
Gardasil developer remembered in QldThe Age, Australia - May 3, 2008Professor Ian Frazer, who was named Australian of the Year in 2006 for his work in developing the world's first cervical cancer vaccine - known as Gardasil ... |
Mothers Delay Gardasil For DaughtersNewsinferno.com, NY - May 6, 2008Many American moms are apparently ignoring Merck & Co’s. aggressive efforts to convince them that their young daughters must be given the Gardasil human ... |
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