Getting a vaccine is intended to be a safe measure to protect people from contracting diseases. However, the FDA reports that the Vaccine Adverse Effects Reporting System (VAERS) received reports of adverse side effects from several patients following the introduction of the Gardasil vaccines. Adverse reactions to this vaccine have been recorded in adolescents and children.

If you received Gardasil and afterward experienced complications, side effects, or other severe health issues that would have been caused by the vaccine, you can join a Gardasil lawsuit. This blog explores some of the side effects associated with Gardasil.

Infertility Linked to Gardasil

Premature ovarian insufficiency, also known as POI, is a condition in which women under the age of 40 develop high blood hormone levels, a disordered menstrual cycle, and signs of estrogen deficiency such as night sweats, hot flashes, sleep disruption, and feeling pain when urinating because of vaginal dryness. POI is an extremely rare condition that affects only 1% of the female population. Although an ovarian biopsy is a decisive step for diagnosis, blood tests and symptoms can also be used.

Gardasil contains viral proteins that are identical to proteins that are essential for the healthy functioning of the ovaries. These cause the body to mount an immunological reaction to Gardasil, resulting in an attack on certain proteins essential for the healthy functioning of the ovaries. The attack on these particular proteins results in their destruction or other dysfunction, which leads to the development of POI. 

However, the court has ruled that if the evidence demonstrates the presence of adrenal or ovarian autoantibodies, lymphocytic oophoritis, or other autoimmune illnesses, it would declare a verdict in favor of the victim. Even if none of these 3 conditions exist, a competent lawyer could nevertheless prove that the victim's POI is most likely autoimmune considering her specific medical history.

Cervical Cancer and Gardasil

Several debates have erupted in response to assertions that the Gardasil vaccine helps to prevent cancer. Each year, more than ten thousand women in the US are diagnosed with cervical cancer, which is brought about by mutated cervical cells. According to NPR, only a few institutions, like the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Academy of Pediatrics, have backed these arguments.

The vaccination is administered in a three-shot series spaced six months apart. The Gardasil series costs roughly $400 in total, exclusive of the insurance. The Gardasil vaccine is an excellent choice for protecting children and adolescent girls against the virus before they become sexually active. However, based on the raw statistics, it's difficult to believe that administering these risky vaccines to young children and girls wouldn't cause more harm. This is especially true given that only a small percentage of women vaccinated with HPV develop cervical cancer. The claim is that young girls tend to become sexually active and mature much earlier than their parents anticipate. That's why medical practitioners begin administering vaccines to girls as early as 11 years old.

Serious Injuries and Death

The FDA authorized Merck & Co.'s Gardasil vaccination in 2006. Merck & Co. developed the vaccine to protect against several kinds of HPV infections in both women and men aged between 9 and 26. However, since it was released, several recipients have complained and reported their negative side effects. Complications from vaccines are said to have caused several fatalities.

Although the majority of beneficiaries have not reported any adverse injuries or effects, the general public is now more informed about the potential risks posed by the vaccination. Given that the most serious cases result in impairment or even loss of life, efforts are being made to prevent further injuries. Many criticize the FDA's expedited clearance process, which lasted only 6 months.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

The human papillomavirus is a sexually transmitted infection. More than eighty million US citizens contract the virus, ranking it as the most common STI in the US. Because the infection spreads easily during sex, approximately 80% of sexually active adults will most likely contract some form of HPV during their lifetime.

The challenging aspect of the human papillomavirus is that the vast majority of carriers aren't even aware or are completely ignorant that they have the infection. Over 90 percent of new HPV infections are unnoticeable or don’t display symptoms within the first few years. Some more severe cases can result in visible symptoms like genital warts. Although HPV can take on many different forms, there are only two main types of the viral infection:

1.  Low-risk HPV Strain

These types of strains are asymptomatic. The body could develop immunity to certain strains and eventually remove the virus. Although these variants do not cause serious illnesses such as cancer, they could develop genital warts. Low-risk HPV has no known cancer-causing side effects, all are simply cosmetic.

2.  HPV Strain with High Risk

These HPV types are significantly more dangerous and could cause cervical cancer. A high-risk HPV strain can also be transmitted through direct physical contact. However, the vast majority of individuals who acquire these HPV strains do not suffer from cervical cancer.

What Are the Gardasil Vaccine's Negative Side Effects?

There were numerous reports of adverse side effects that were neither mentioned on the packaging nor made public:

  • One of the most severe side effects recorded by vaccination recipients was paralysis
  • Several women reported miscarriages after taking the Gardasil vaccine
  • A limited number of recipients experienced anaphylactic shock
  • Several recipients reported having had seizures upon receiving the vaccine
  • Merck and HPV vaccinations have been connected to several hundred fatalities

A report was made of a 21-year-old woman who died after getting the Gardasil vaccine. She complained of feeling significantly less energetic and experiencing dizziness while standing just a few days after having her vaccination. The lady had no prior medical issues or reports of feeling unwell. Since the Gardasil vaccine was advertised as a safe prophylactic vaccine for human papillomavirus, especially among college students, most parents inadvertently exposed their children to danger. Several more middle-school-aged girls had become bedridden as a result of the vaccine.

There are several accounts of parents who were heartbroken and grieving as a result of Gardasil complications. Most of their kids suffered seriously, which at that time had no apparent connection to the Gardasil vaccine.

Safety Monitoring

Gardasil has been monitored by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the World Health Organization (WHO) since its licensure in June 2005 and is still being monitored today. In one significant breakthrough, the CDC and FDA collaborated on an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA). This article documented 12,424 reported adverse events, comprising 772 serious incidents, that were documented from June 2006 until December 2008. VAERS had received reports of 32 deaths as of December 31, 2008.

At the time of the investigation, Merck had issued twenty-three million vaccine doses of Gardasil, and the following side effects had been noted:

  • Autoimmune disorders
  • Reactions at the injection point
  • Dizziness and headaches
  • Syncope
  • Nausea
  • Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS)
  • Pregnancy
  • Allergic reactions
  • Transverse myelitis
  • Thromboembolic venous events (blood clots or VTEs)
  • Motor neuron disease
  • Pancreatitis
  • Deaths

Although uncommon, these negative side effects are never justified. Doctors only recommend vaccinations when they believe the advantages exceed the dangers. However, individuals suffer when firms like Merck neglect to disclose all the details of their research to the general public.

Concerns Regarding Gardasil's Side Effects

Since its release, complaints about Gardasil injection issues have started to surface. This is because Dr. Diane Harper, one of the principal researchers who developed the HPV vaccination, suggested that the vaccine's protection could last for a few years and that the negative effects could exceed the benefits.

Even though the Gardasil vaccine was tested on girls aged 15, it's commonly administered to young girls as early as nine. She has demanded that parents be given more thorough cautions about the dangers of Gardasil and that more details be given about the unidentified long-term advantages for girls who won't likely engage in sexual activity for several years. Many medical professionals firmly believe that Gardasil should be used, arguing that any dangers are minor and that most of the arguments put forth by anti-vaccination activists lack any basis.

The Gardasil vaccine has received praise from the National Cancer Institute, which claims that its widespread usage could cut the number of cervical cancer fatalities globally by more than two-thirds of the population. Many people also recommend that men receive the vaccination to encourage "herd immunity," which happens when a sizable enough proportion of the population receives a vaccination against a certain disease and acts as a firewall, restricting the transmission of that illness even to unvaccinated individuals.

What Is the Gardasil Vaccine?

Gardasil is a vaccine that protects against HPV, the most common STI in the US. Not only is an HPV infection difficult to spot once acquired, but it also does not go away on its own and could result in the following health concerns:

  • Vaginal Cancer
  • Cervical Cancer
  • Vulvar Cancer
  • Throat Cancer
  • Penile Cancer
  • Genital Warts
  • Anal Cancer

The Gardasil vaccine has been dubbed a "wonder vaccine" since it first hit the market because it can protect children and teenagers against all diseases that are directly linked to acquiring HPV even though they're not sexually active. What the manufacturer of the Gardasil HPV vaccine, Merck, does not often disclose are the substantial unpleasant side effects that have been recorded as a matter of fact.

Unfortunately, some teenagers and children have developed systemic autoimmune dysregulation and nervous system disorders, like postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Furthermore, recent research indicates that the HPV vaccine would not be useful in protecting women from cervical cancer. Nonetheless, the CDC continues to promote Gardasil vaccines for girls and boys aged between 11 and 12.

What Is the Gardasil Vaccine Made Of?

Vaccines are mainly composed of proteins derived from viruses or bacteria. We could train our immune systems to fight foreign materials by injecting proteins into the blood circulation, protecting us from getting the illness. The Gardasil vaccines follow the same procedures. However, they incorporate additional elements into the mixture.

These substances consist of:

  • Sodium Borate
  • AAHS (Amorphous Aluminum Hydroxyphosphate Sulfate)
  • Water
  • Yeast Protein
  • L-histidine
  • Sodium chloride
  • Polysorbate 80

With the introduction of these additional particles, the vaccination became dangerous, causing a variety of negative side effects.

How to File a Mass Tort Lawsuit

Our attorneys have recently received an inflow of questions about Gardasil and how to initiate a mass tort lawsuit. If you or someone you know is interested in learning more about pursuing an HPV vaccine case, kindly consider the following steps:

Notify the Vaccine Court of Your Claim

Anyone who has been adversely affected by an HPV vaccine and intends to file a case must do so through the vaccine court. This court is run by the Department of Health and Human Services. They're in charge of offering financial recompense to anyone who was adversely affected by the vaccine. The first phase in suing a vaccine manufacturer directly in a civil court is to file a claim before the vaccine court. A competent attorney can assist you in submitting your case to the court immediately.

Pick the Right Lawyer

If you intend to file a Gardasil vaccine claim, you should select a lawyer with Gardasil lawsuit experience. The internal dynamics of pharmaceutical regulations are complicated and should be dealt with by a professional attorney if you want to win. 

Managing Settlements

If you are not granted a settlement, your attorney can defend you in civil court. He or she would have to sue directly against the drug manufacturers without the support of the vaccine court. Your attorney will walk with you every step of the way to ensure that your lawsuit is successful. To be eligible for a mass tort lawsuit, you must satisfy the following conditions:

  • The Gardasil vaccine caused substantial harm to you or a loved one
  • This injury should be a high-profile case. In other words, it resulted in either surgery, hospitalization, or even loss of life
  • Your claim submission should fall within the appropriate time frame:
    • 2 years for the loss of life
    • 3 years for an injury
    • 4 years of serious injuries that resulted in the loss of life

Find a Gardasil Vaccine Mass Tort Near Me

If you or your loved one experienced an adverse side effect upon getting the Gardasil vaccine, then our team at the Consumer Alert Now is here to help. We have dedicated ourselves to informing consumers nationwide about the side effects of defective devices and drugs. We can help you join a mass tort to seek compensation for your damages. Call us today at 800-511-0747.