HPV Vaccine Linked To Teen's Paralysis?

Her Father Thinks Gardasil Might Be; Drug's Maker Denies It

(CBS)  Jenny was a healthy 13-year-old living in Northern California -- until 15 months ago when, her parents say, she received the third and final shot of the vaccine designed to protect against human papillomavirus (HPV).

HPV causes a large percentage of cases of cervical cancer.

Soon after getting that third injection, her parents say, Jenny began experiencing the first signs of a degenerative muscle disease. They say she's their daughter is now almost completely paralyzed.

Did Gardasil cause Jenny's condition?

Her family told CBS News it believes "there may be a link. But, there is no medical consensus on whether this hypothesis is stronger than other possible explanations."

Merck, Gardasil's maker, disputes that, saying in a statement, "Based on the facts that we've received, the information does not suggest that this event was causally associated with vaccination."

Jenny's father hopes a blog he started will prompt other teens with similar post-vaccination problems to come forward.

U.S. News & World report says there have been other possible adverse effects associated with Gardisil, though none has been confirmed.

The New York Post also says Gardasil may be causing some medical problems.

Cervical cancer is the second most deadly cancer women's cancer.

Since the Food and Drug Administration approved Gardasil in 2006, some 8 million girls have received at least one of the three shots, with 13 million injections administered in all, the FDA says.

On The Early Show Monday, Dr. Holly Phillips of CBS station WCBS-TV in New York told substitute anchor Tracy Smith, "At this point we shouldn't be more worried than we've ever been. I think the biggest concern is -- parents want to know that, when they give the shots to their children, they're protecting them, not putting them in harm's way.

"Even though a case like Jenny's is incredibly tragic, we also have to be fair and make it very clear that it has not been linked with Gardasil. We understand the family's hypothesis, but still, the FDA, CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) have not linked her case with Gardasil."

Putting things in perspective, Phillips said, "It has been tested on thousands and thousands of women before it ever hit the market. And, already, 8 million women have gotten the shot. So, it's really a relatively small number of complaints we're looking at, but they should be taken seriously. Yet, it's not time for parents to pull the plug and say, 'This is too risky for my child.' "

Phillips said other reports of possible problems stemming from Gardisil have been received on the CDC and FDA's VAERS (Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System), on which anyone (substantiated or not) can report side affects they feel they are having to a drug or shot.

"Anyone with any concerns whatsoever after they've had the vaccine," can report those concerns via VAERS, Phillips sais, "and they could have had the vaccine a year ago or a week ago. It really doesn't matter. Anyone with any concerns can report them to this system. ... That doesn't mean they're necessarily linked with the vaccine. It just means you have a concern and you would like it looked at thoroughly."

The feds, says Phillips, take VAERS "very seriously. Every week, they actually sit down and look at these complaints. And what they're looking is not just an individual case, but they're really looking for multiple links where several women had the same effect."

[sceptic11]

I agree with pbxb, that most vaccines are worth the risk, and didn''t mean to imply that we should all stop taking them. But after reading so much about Vioxx and Gardasil, it seems clear to me that the pharmaceutical industry has gotten to a dangerous place... where the financial/marketing side is making decisions better left to scientists. In theory, an independent nurse practitioner or doctor should have no motivation to push one drug over another, but the same cannot be said (without a healthy dose of cynicism) of the marketing side of big pharma. The goal of marketing is to SELL... as soon and as much as possible... which is well and good, but the tactics used toward that goal need to be reigned in and STRICTLY monitored. Otherwise, beneficial but potentially dangerous drugs can be released before certain risks are discovered, or the risks that ARE known are allowed to be underplayed and buried in the fine print. Science should be dictating the timetable... not the shareholders or the scientists being highly paid as consultants to marketing.

[pbxb2]

I''m a nurse practitioner and highly recommend the vaccine, I don''t force the vaccine on anyone and I give the parents the information on the vaccine to make a rational decison for themselves. I have boys and will vaccinate them when it is approved for them. I have seen 12, 13, 15, 16 18-28 year olds having cervical dysplasia which leads to cancer. They have to have colposcopies yearly, pap smears every 3 months for 1-2 years and even Leep procedures at a young age. If you have never seen or had a leep procedure done it''s terrible for such a young child to go through. I wouldn''t wish that on my worst enemy. They may come up with something better in the future, but for now if I can prevent something I will try. All of our vaccines have risks, but the benefits on most out way the risks. The CDC and FDA have not put any warnings out on this yet. I have had numerous girls get the vaccine without any side effects. The only try way to prevent this disease (and others) is total abstinence (no touching of genital parts at all). I''m sorry to say this will never happen in today''s society.

[sceptic11]

I never would have known about Gardasil at all if I hadn''t had a heart attack while taking Vioxx. That event started me reading everything I could find out about the Vioxx situation, during which I learned about Gardasil. My initial concern was the amazing lengths to which Merck would go in order to virtually force Gardasil on trusting consumers. Attempts, through political connections, to have the use of Gardasil MANDATED, one state at a time. I really hate having become so cynical, but after reading about it for so many months, it''s impossible to not be suspicious of the "humanitarian" slant Merck has put on the entire Gardasil campaign. Especially since the primary customers are children. What better way to sell a product than to so brazenly play on a parent''s desire to do what is right for their child? Talk about cynical. And is it merely a coincidence that the aggressive, multi-tiered promotional campaign (born of concern, of course) came during a time when Merck was looking for a way to pay for an enormous Vioxx litigation?

[sceptic11]

I never would have known about Gardasil at all if I hadn''t had a heart attack while taking Vioxx. That event started me reading everything I could find out about the Vioxx situation, during which I learned about Gardasil. My initial concern was the amazing lengths to which Merck would go in order to virtually force Gardasil on trusting consumers. Attempts, through political connections, to have the use of Gardasil MANDATED, one state at a time. I really hate having become so cynical, but after reading about it for so many months, it''s impossible to not be suspicious of the "humanitarian" slant Merck has put on the entire Gardasil campaign. Especially since the primary customers are children. What better way to sell a product than to so brazenly play on a parent''s desire to do what is right for their child? Talk about cynical. And is it merely a coincidence that the aggressive, multi-tiered promotional campaign (born of concern, of course) came during a time when Merck was looking for a way to pay for an enormous Vioxx litigation?

[mellownnv]

It is sickening to see how dr''s and nurses blindly recommend this vaccine to impressionable young girls and their parents who do not have all the information about the possible side effects. Yet another example of pharmaceutical companies buying off these professionals!

[mellownnv]

It would be ridiculous to think that vaccines don''t have possibly horrible consequences for some who get them. I would never get an unnecessary vaccine or advise others to do so, knowing that there is such uncertainty as to who may have these serious reactions! How about advising girls to protect themselves by not having casual *** and to get regular Pap Smears when they are sexually active to detect cervical changes.

[llk2901]

As a registered nurse and a mom, I too will not allow my daugher nor son, (boys will be the next target since they are HPV carriers) to get this shot. As I tell people that the old nurse in me sees the value of some vaccines, but the more informed mom questions the the risks and need for others. Up until this point both kids have had all vaccines, but if I had it to do over I certainly would refuse at least the Hepatitis B and chickenpox vaccine and as I said, the HPV vaccine. And when I say they have had all vaccines that is everything except flu and pneumonia vaccines. I am an RN and have never had nor will I ever have a flu shot!
I have very strong opinions about the politics of Gardasil as well as several other vaccines, but all you have to do is read the valid scientific information, (NOT PROVIDED BY GOVERNMENT OR DRUG COMPANY), and the proof is there that this is a dangerous, dangerous vaccine.

[4marlene]

Type this in your search engine and see what Judical Watch uncovered via the Freedom of Information Act... FDA Hides Eight More Gardasil Deaths
October 25 2007 and you can also find other adverse vaccine events from Gardisil including more reports of paralysis. This is not an isolated incident. I''ve advised my son''s to not get this shot for their daughters. Investigate before you vaccinate!!!

[toldyouso12]

Hundreds of thousands die every year from cervical cancer. It''''s sad to think that many of them could have been saved, and that some of those now may not due to fear from one singular coincidence.

Posted by SusanHelit at 03:49 PM : Jul 07, 2008

Gee, Susan, according to the stats less than 5,000 die from cervical cancer each year. Others may be prone to some exaggeration--but honey--you just shot the entire wad of your credibility in one big hit. HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS DIE FROM CERVICAL CANCER EACH YEAR? Where? Susan? On "pulling the numbers out of your azz planet? LMAO

ACS :: What Are the Key Statistics About Cervical Cancer?
About 3870 women will die from cervical cancer in the United States during 2008. Cervical cancer was once one of the most common causes of cancer death for ...
www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_1X_What_are_the_key_statistics_for_cervical_cancer_8.asp - 36k - Cached - Similar pages

[toldyouso12]

Posters that decry this vaccine as dangerous are those that have similar opinions of vaccines in general.

Polio was killing thousands of people a year, a plague among the young. Should we have just let nature run its course and take out those that could not fight the virus? That is a tough call and would like to see it made by a reasonable individual.

To some, 5 years is not enough for testing. Millions of young woman are now protected from cancer...and this is a bad thing?


Posted by mecury69 at 04:07 PM : Jul 07, 2008


I am against this vaccine. I have had many vaccines in my lifetime (I worked in Biologics--human and veterinary) and all my kids have had all of their shots--but not this vaccine, and based on what I have read --they won''t be getting this one. Many who are familiar with the literature and testing data of this product are not letting members of their family near this product--the main reason is that the data is skewed and controversial information is not answered by ignored. This product appears to have been fast tracked--in the old days, the only way that was done was by bribing the FDA.