Between 2006 and 2019, there were more than 64,000 Gardasil HPV vaccine adverse events reported to the FDA’s Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). Outside the United States, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports there have been more than 100,000 serious adverse events associated with Gardasil. People in the U.S. and throughout the world are experiencing serious and debilitating HPV vaccine side effects.
Lawsuits have been filed throughout the country against Merck, the manufacturer of Gardasil, alleging the HPV vaccine causes dysautonomia, including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), orthostatic intolerance (OI), fibromyalgia, and other serious side effects. Many people have seen their lives forever changed after receiving the vaccine.
In this blog, we will discuss some of the most common side effects associated with the HPV vaccine Gardasil.
What is HPV?
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a viral infection that is transmitted via skin-to-skin contact. It is the most common sexually transmitted disease. In fact, HPV is so common that the majority of sexually active people will get it at some point in their lives, even if they have few sexual partners.
Scientists have identified more than 200 strains of HPV, and of those, more than 40 strains can be passed through sexual contact. While the risk of getting HPV at some point is high, the virus is, for the most part, benign. A 2012 study reported that more than 90 percent of HPV infections cause no clinical symptoms, are self-limited, and are removed from the human body by its own immunological mechanisms and disappear naturally from the body following an infection.
Does HPV Cause Cervical Cancer?
Out of more than 200 strains of HPV, there are between 12 and 18 strains that scientists believe are associated with cervical cancer. While it may sound alarming to have that many strains linked to cervical cancer, not every HPV infection puts one at risk for cervical cancer.
Short-term infections or sequential infections with different HPV types do not put one at risk for cervical cancer. Only persistent HPV infections in a limited number of cases with certain strains of the virus may cause the development of precancerous lesions.
Precancerous lesions are typically diagnosed through Pap smears and then removed through medical procedures. However, when undiagnosed, they may in some cases progress to cervical cancer in some women. Other risk factors, such as smoking, are also associated with cervical cancer.
What is Gardasil?
Gardasil is purported to be a “cervical cancer vaccine” that attempts to prevent a handful of the hundreds of strains of HPV. Merck, the company that manufactures Gardasil, claimed its original vaccine (Gardasil 4) protects against infection from four strains (HPV Strain Types 6, 11, 16 and 18). Only two of those (Types 16 and 18) are associated with cervical cancer. In 2014, Merck introduced Gardasil 9, which protects against infection from nine strains (HPV Strain Types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58).
According to lawyers filing Gardasil lawsuits, Merck preceded its rollout of Gardasil with years of expensive disease awareness marketing, including commercials designed to strike fear in people about HPV and cervical cancer. While the commercials could not mention Gardasil, which had not yet been approved by FDA, they did include Merck’s logo and name.
Lawsuits allege Merck systematically misrepresented Gardasil’s effectiveness and safety by advertising that the HPV vaccine prevents cervical cancer even though there are no clinical studies to support this claim.
According to government data, the incidence of deaths from cervical cancer prior to Gardasil’s introduction in the U.S. had been steadily declining. In 2006, the rate was 2.4 per 100,000 women, or approximately 1 in every 42,000 women. The currently available rate is essentially unchanged at 2.2 per 100,000 women (based on data through 2017).
Is Gardasil Dangerous?
Gardasil contains numerous hazardous ingredients, including at least one ingredient that Merck failed to disclose to regulators and the public. These ingredients include:
Aluminum – A potent neurotoxin that can result in very serious harm (impairing cognitive and motor function; inducing autoimmune interactions; increasing blood brain barrier permeability; inducing macrophagic myofascitis in muscle; blocking neuronal signaling; interrupting cell-to-cell communications; corrupting neuronal-glial interactions; interfering with synaptic transmissions; altering enzyme function; impairing protein function; fostering development of abnormal tau proteins; and altering DNA).
An undisclosed DNA adjuvant – The scientific literature suggests there are grave and little-understood risks attendant to injecting DNA into the human body. Lawsuits allege Merck hid the the fact DNA fragments were contained in Gardasil.
Borax – FDA has banned borax as a food additive in the United States, and yet allows Merck to use it in the Gardasil vaccine without any proof of safety.
Polysorbate 80 – Opens up the blood brain barrier and allows AAHS and aluminum to pass through resistive cell membranes.
Genetically Modified Yeast – Studies have linked yeast with autoimmune conditions.
Common Gardasil Vaccine Side Effects
Gardasil has been linked to a myriad of autoimmune disorders and other serious health conditions. Below are several of the most common:
- Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM)
- Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS),
- Autoimmune hepatitis
- Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP)
- Autonomic dysfunction
- Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)
- Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CDIP)
- Chronic regional pain syndrome
- Dysautonomia
- Encephalitis syndrome
- Fibromyalgia
- Guillain–Barré syndrome (GBS)
- Immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
- Interconnective tissue disorder
- Migraines
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Orthostatic Intolerance (OI)
- Persistent gastrointestinal discomfort
- Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)
- Premature ovarian failure (POF)
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Severe headaches
- Small fiber neuropathy (SFN)
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- Transverse myelitis
- Widespread pain of a neuropathic character
Common HPV Vaccine Side Effect: Dysautonomia
Dysautonomia affects the autonomic nervous system (ANS), which controls involuntary body functions like breathing, blood pressure, heart rate, and others. Dysautonomia conditions, which include postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and orthostatic intolerance (OI), happen when a person’s ANS fails to send or receive messages correctly.
In the study Adverse Reactions to Human Papillomavirus Vaccines, researchers discovered that Gardasil is capable of causing dysautonomia conditions because it contains strong immune stimulating ingredients. Gardasil lawsuits allege the mixture of adjuvants in Gardasil can cause autoimmune diseases, including dysautonomia.
Common HPV Vaccine Side Effect: POTS
Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is an abnormal increase in heart rate that happens after a person sits up or stands. Common symptoms of POTS include dizziness, vertigo, shortness of breath, and fainting. POTS is one of the most common Gardasil side effects alleged in lawsuits. Several studies have found a link between the HPV vaccine and POTS, including:
HPV Vaccine Lawsuits
The award-winning law firm of Wisner Baum is leading the way in the Gardasil litigation against Merck. The firm represents hundreds of men and women who allege Merck misrepresented the safety and efficacy of its HPV vaccine and caused serious side effects. So many young women and men (FDA also approved Gardasil for boys) are suffering as a result of the HPV vaccine. Many of our clients say their post-Gardasil life has been a living nightmare. They all trusted that Gardasil is safe and does not carry any risk of serious side effects, never suspecting the grave illnesses and disabilities that could follow.
If you or your child has been diagnosed with any of the side effects listed above after receiving a Gardasil shot, you may be able to pursue justice and compensation. Since opening our doors in 1985, we have won more than $4 billion in verdicts and settlements for clients.
Our firm offers free and confidential Gardasil lawsuit evaluations. Click here to fill out our contact form or give us a call today at (855) 948-5098.
