New Worries About Gardasil Safety

(CBS)  There are new concerns about Gardasil, the vaccine that prevents a virus that caused cervical cancer. It's approved for girls as young as nine. And five million have received it since it was approved two years ago. The FDA and its maker insist it's safe. But CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson has exclusive information on some very serious side effects.

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Gabby Swank was a straight-A student and cheerleader.

But that was before she became very ill following the standard dose of three Gardasil vaccinations, Attkisson reports.

You know the commercial. It showed teenage girls saying "I want to be one less" who gets the HPV virus, which is linked to cervical cancer.

"It was like a big hype among my friends, because we're like, 'we're gonna get it' because we felt almost pressured by the commercials," Gabby said.

Gabby got sicker after each shot, progressing to seizures, strokes and heart problems. It was her neurologist who suspected Gardasil was to blame.

"I think there are too many people having serious long-term side-effects," said neurologist Dr. Dwight Lindholm.

Last fall, the government and vaccine maker Merck concluded there's no link between Gardasil and serious adverse events like Gabby's. But a new analysis calls that finding into question.

The National Vaccine Information Center, a private vaccine-safety group, compared Gardasil adverse events to another vaccine, one also given to young people, but for meningitis. Gardasil had three times the number of Emergency Room visits - more than 5,000. Reports of side effects were up to 30 times higher with Gardasil.

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Read the analysis by the National Vaccine Information Center.

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"If I'd have known, we never would have gotten the shot," said Emily Tarsell, whose daughter, Chris, died three weeks after her third Gardasil shot. She was one of the 29 fatalities reported in two years. "And she'd be here to hug."

Barbara Loe Fisher, co-founder of the NVIC, said: "Now we know from this report that there are more reactions and deaths associated with Gardasil than with another vaccine given in the same age group. It's irresponsible not to take action."

Merck, the FDA and CDC question the value of the new analysis, say they continue to review the data, Gardasil remains safe and effective, and its benefits outweigh the risks.

Those who believe the vaccine hurt them aren't convinced. Gabby isn't cheering anymore and is too sick to even attend school.

"I struggle with guilt a lot, because I made the choice to get the shot for her," said Gabby's mom, Shannon Swank.

Meantime, Merck has asked the FDA to approve it for boys, who can pass on the cancer causing virus to girls, meaning the number of people getting Gardasil may double

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What follows is a statement from Merck:

It's important to remember that the proven benefit of GARDASIL is that it helps prevent cervical cancer caused by the two virus types responsible for most cases of cervical cancer. Nothing is more important to Merck than the safety of our products and we carefully monitor the safety of GARDASIL on a routine basis. Experts at the FDA and CDC also continue to review data and, as recently as four months ago, said "GARDASIL continues to be safe and effective, and its benefits continue to outweigh its risks."
NVIC is not a medical organization and has a long history of raising concerns about vaccines that are in direct conflict with the opinion of leading medical experts. We encourage consumers to get reliable information about the safety of vaccines from www.cdc.gov.<

[fragrantgas]

I just read a very informative article from a doctor mommy who researched all the data and determined the gardasil vaccine is safe and should be prescribed. I appreciate articles backed by real research, like this one: http://evidencebasedmommy.blogspot.com/2011/08/gardasil-girls-gone-wild.html

[jocelynloreen]

The Guardasil Vaccination has been linked to Guillain-Barre Syndrome. It affects the nervous system and is extremely devistating and long term. My 26 year old daughter suffer this after her third shot. She began to experience "pins and needles" in her hands and feet. She was admitted to the hospital and within 3 hours she was in ICU for 30 days. Ended up on a respirator and was paralyzed from the neck down. She was in the hospital for 3 months. She has recoved and is walking again after eight months. This was from Sept. 30, 2009. She began walking with a walker in March, 2010. I would recommend consulting a Neurologist. Since December, 2010, the side affects of the Guardasil and H1N1 vaccinations are listed. Guillain-Barre Syndrome is one of those side affects. Please research this syndrome.

[pinktopaz777]

I'm 26 and received my second shot yesterday. Wow! My stomach has been in knots the entire day! I felt normal after my first shot but this second shot seems to have my poor tummy in chronic pain. I woke up this morning with my stomach hurting. I thought maybe it was gas or something that I ate the night before; then I remembered that I had my shot the day before. What led me to believing it's the shot is that I've had plenty of stomachaches before, but they go away fairly quickly after some club soda or Pepto. But I was in pain literally all day and nothing seemed to help. It's a little after midnight and it seems to be getting better. I am a little worried about the third shot now especially after this experience and reading others' experiences.

[jocelynloreen]

My daughter had her third shot on approx. Aug. 12, 2009. She complained of intestinal and upper respiratory problems. On September 30, 2009, I took her to the Emergency Room, as she was exhibiting "pins and needles" in her hands and feet. After extensive blood work, mri, and spinal tap, she was admitted and diagnosed with Guillain-Barre Syndrome. That was at 3;00 a.m. By 10:00 a.m the next morning, she was admitted into the intensive care unit. As the day progressed, she began to experience severe weakness in her legs. By the second day, she could no longer walk. By the third day, she lost all control of her hands. By day four, she was on a respirator which later would include a feeding tube. She spent 30 days in ICU and another 3 months in the hospital. She had 7 specialists. 4 were sure her illness was a result of the Guadasil Vaccination, and the other 3 would not confirm or deny. On Dec. 23, 2009, we were discharged. Still on a respirator and feeding tube and 18 different medications. With outstanding Physical and Occupational therapists, she was walking with a walker by March, 2010. I guarantee you, this was a direct result of the Guardasil shot. As of Dec, 2010, it is listed that the severe side affects of the Guardasil Vacc. and the H1N1 shot is Guillain-Barre Syndrome. You need to see a Neurologist. This affects the nervous system. Be insistent!!! Please keep me updated. My email address is [e-mail]. Take care

[pinktopaz777]

Thanks, jocelynloreen! I decided to not get the third shot. I was due to get it back in April but after reading all the terrible things that have happened to others and the major pain I was in after my second shot--I decided it wasn't a good idea to get the third.

[maryahlynn]

I am almost 17 years old, and a junior in High School, I had gotten the shot back in 07 and as soon as i got the first dose (my one and only dose)I immideatly started having problems. Since then I have only attened school a total of 11 months in the past 3 years. I constantly pass out, have blurry vision, numbness to my left side, difficulty breathing on a daily basis, I am always feeling fatigued, I can't sleep hardly anymore, and at worse times, when I pass out, I stop breathing. I have been hospitalized 5 times, and been to the Emergency Room over 200 times in these past 3 years. I used to be a perfect attendance, and honor roll student, used to play paintball, go out with my friends and have fun, model, and believe it or not,I actualy LOVED going to school. I can't do that anymore. And it's all because of the Gardasil! I JUST WANT MY OLD LIFE BACK, TO BE NORMAL AGAIN AND HAVE FUN! ='( IF YOU CAN HELP ME IN ANY WAY, ANY WAY AT ALL, PLEASE EMAIL ME AT [e-mail] PLEASE HELP ME.
Maryah Rugh

[[e-mail]]

My daughter has had the same symptoms for the past 4 years. She began experiencing prolonged blackouts last year. We have seen almost every specialist there is and all tell us that all of her tests are fine. She noticed that many of her friends - all girls who received the vaccine - were experiencing very similar symptoms. Our chiropractor was getting all of these girls referred to him for issues with joint pain and stiffness. He researched the Gardasil vaccine and has developed a treatment and is having great success. The patients he has treated are regaining their lives. My daughter will begin treatment when she returns for her college break. (She has already had one black out episode and an ER visit since starting college in September.)

[MeganTR]

I forgot to add that Gardisil has had 50 million doses distributed since 2006, and still the FDA, CDC, and multiple monitoring systems continue to reject the claims made that the vaccine is associated with any side effects not already described on its prescribing label.

In the end, a lot of these same anti-Vaccine people are the ones who probably still insist evolution is just a theory, despite evidence.

[MeganTR]

A lot of these pseudo-science fear-mongers are the same ones who created the anti-Vaccine autism scare over the past 10 years, despite the fact that the research journals retracted the original studies, the doctor admitted to manipulating the results, and is in the process of going to jail. Another major scare was the whole "thimerosol generates autism" scare, when no pediatric vaccine (aside from flu) has had thimerosol in it for 10 years now, and autism rates have still increased each year.

The fact is that the 3 independant vaccine monitoring systems do work, as evidenced by recent vaccines like RotaShield which was pulled off within months of release. The media mis-informs because it never tells the public that anyone can file a report and link it to a vaccine, regardless of any actual association. The media simply says someone claimed X happened to them after Y vaccine. The CDC and FDA have regularly looked at all Gardisil reports, and there are no links or increased risks among patients who have taken Gardisil, compared to the general population, across any side effect not listed in the prescribing information.

The same anti-Gardisil individuals usually are anti-knowledge in general; many of them also think the Earth is only 6000 years old, and inherently distrust science and evidence-based research.

[mskochin]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diethylstilbestrol

[rdmathis2]

My daughter was disabled by abdominal pain from Gardasil. She was treated by Duke and Wake Forest. Email me at [e-mail] and I will try to help you if possible. A lot of doctors are now recognizing what Gardasil is doing to our children. My daughter's Gall Bladder stopped functioning after Gardasil and sores formed in her stomach. Please don't let this happen to your child.

Rosemary Mathis
Co-Founder
WWW.TRUTHABOUTGARDASIL.ORG

[rdmathis2]

My daughter was disabled by Gardasil. As a result of the research performed after her injuries, I co-founded a site with another mother whose child was injured to allow people to know the Truth About Gardasil. The site is WWW.TRUTHABOUTGARDASIL.ORG. My daughter, who was 12 years old when injured was treated by Duke University's Children's Hospital and Wake Forest Brenner's Children's Hospital for SEVERE ABDOMINAL PAIN. The vaccine caused her Gall Bladder to stop functioning, her liver to be enlarged, and sores to form in her abdomen. My 12 year old was on pain medicine for about a year to cope with the pain. It was a horrible experiance. NO CHILD should miss a year of school because of a vaccine. Many are not recovering and many are dying. Email me [e-mail] and I will try to help you if possible. Many doctors are now recognizing what Gardasil is doing to our children. When will the FDA and CDC do their jobs and pull this vaccine off the market. Put this in your browser and read the comments in this interview http://www.wxii12.com/health/23519907/detail.html. CBS should do a story on this because it is a real problem.

Please email and we will try to find you a good doctor, but my advice is to NOT get the 3rd dose of this vaccine. The 3rd dose completely disabled my daughter.

Rosemary Mathis
Co-Founder WWW.TRUTHABOUTGARDASIL.ORG

[mcoat001]

First off I'm 23 and have never had any health issues. I felt dizzy and nauseous with some stomach pains after the first shot, didn't think anything of it. I had the second shot at the end of May and I have had more severe stomach pains and insomnia. Insomnia for 2 months! I can't take it, I've started taking sleeping pills but I still only sleep for a couple of hours. Now I'm seeing all this stuff about Gardasil and I don't know what to do. What happens if you don't take the 3rd shot? will the insomnia and other side effects go away? Please respond if you know!

[aetanner]

I just had a colposcopy done to determine if my "abnormal Pap was pre- cancerous or just abnormal due to HPV, thank the universe it was just due to the presence of HPV. I have been looking into Gardasil for a few weeks now and I can honestly say thank you ladies for your stories. Without them I would be making the same mistakes. My mother has spoken of disasters from this vaccine but i had no idea. I am 22 same age as one of the "lucky" skeptics on here,I do have HPV,it doesn't do anything to me other than show up as abnormal on my pap, it doesn't cause cancer(my type)after two years (per my physician) my body will recognize it and be immune to my type. I am glad I have not risked my life for a media induced frenzy of a hoax vaccine. I regularly exercise, do not smoke and eat very well for a college student. I have never had any real health issues..never even had the flu (which in the mountains this year is unbelievable)...Very similar to other stories here..If you think your right "ms. Lucky" because you don't have any side effects, you need to open your eyes and read how many stories just on this little insignificant blog are contradictory to your "facts".If you were so worried about HPV(primarily passed through sexual intercourse) maybe you should have stopped sleeping around instead of injecting yourself with deadly drugs.....why endanger your life over every little concocted disease the CDC and FDA throw out..remember restless leg syndrome..give me a break. drink some water and eat right, your "fidgeting" will go away. Oh or how about how every other tv commercial is about some kind of acne treatment..did you ever think that all the grease in the fast food you eat causes poor skin quality. If you eat right and exercise there is nothing for your body to react negatively to. If your that worried about cancers... cancers cannot grow in a neutral body. Calcium..in pill form not milk( your just drinking more hormones and vaccines given to the cows) will contribute to keeping your body neutral and calcine. Cancers are less likely to form....

i cannot express the gratitude of you all sharing your experiences and losses. My heart is with you that have lost daughters and ones that have fallen ill. I will continue to share these stories with other women my age. Thank you again. I have not gotten the vaccine and will not. I truly feel the only way to help others thinking about this vaccine is to tell your stories...if it wasn't for you all I might be in the same position as your daughters.