Gardasil Vaccine Lawsuit – What You Should Know

Have you experienced severe side effects after receiving the Gardasil vaccine?

If you suffered an injury or adverse event after receiving the Gardasil vaccine, you may be entitled to compensation, but don’t delay.

DEFECTIVE DRUGS & PRODUCTS OVERVIEW

Gardasil Vaccine Lawsuit – What You Should Know

We are currently not accepting Gardasil cases at this time.

Marketed as a Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine and preventive treatment for cervical cancer by maker Merck, Gardasil and its more recent variation, Gardasil 9, have come under fire for the harm people have suffered from serious undisclosed side effects.

There is troubling evidence that Merck failed to correctly test the vaccine and subsequently misled the public about its uses and effects.

If you were given the vaccine and suffered from side effects, you may be owed compensation. For immediate assistance, call 1-866-900-7078 or contact us online.

What Does Merck’s Gardasil Vaccine Do for Patients?

Merck’s Gardasil vaccine hit the market in 2006, claiming to prevent cervical cancer and reduce health risks related to HPV.

Human Papillomavirus is by far the most common sexually transmitted infection. It does not always require sexual contact to spread depending on the strain – skin-to-skin contact could be enough.

There are more than 100 HPV strains, but not all of them cause health problems. Many people with an HPV infection don’t know about it because there are no signs, and it can go away on its own.

Some strains of HPV cause genital warts and others are known to cause cervical cancer, anal cancer, vaginal, or vulvar cancer. These are primarily caused by type 6, 11, 16, and 18 HPV infections.

Gardasil HPV Vaccine – Patients Experiencing Severe Side Effects

Microscope slide of an abnormal pap smear, showing a cervical cancer known as endocervical adenocarcinoma in situ.

Did you experience a health issue or adverse health event caused by Gardasil? The Gardasil vaccine was approved for both males and females, though problems are apparently affecting more women than men.

The Gardasil HPV vaccine comes with a list of side effects from the manufacturer. Many are mild and innocuous. But there are many serious adverse reactions and long-term health risks associated with its use.

Gardasil HPV Vaccine May Increase the Risk of Cervical Cancer

Despite being heavily marketed as a way to prevent certain types of cervical cancer, there is growing evidence that Gardasil may cause it. Some clinical trial participants have reported developing it, and some women have developed particularly aggressive forms of cervical cancer after vaccination.

According to a study, rates of cervical cancer increased in Australia after using Gardasil HPV vaccines.

More studies should be conducted, but the trend beginning to appear is already disturbing. If you had the Gardasil vaccine and subsequently developed cervical cancer, please call 1-866-900-7078 today, and our defective drug attorneys can help you and evaluate your case at no charge.

Gardasil HPV Vaccine May Cause Some Autoimmune Diseases and Other Serious Side Effects

Merck allegedly failed to disclose some ingredients in the Gardasil vaccine, including Amorphous Aluminum Hydroxyphosphate Sulfate (AAHS) and HPV LI-DNA fragments that are known to cause autoimmune problems. There are a host of problems linked to these ingredients and, logically, to Gardasil.

Major risks include:

Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)

Translated to plain language, POTS is postural (related to body position) orthostatic (related to standing upright) tachycardia (a heart rate over 100 beats per minute) syndrome (a group of symptoms that occur together).

Essentially, your body fails to balance blood vessel restriction and heart rate response. Those affected can become dizzy when standing and may have difficulty staying upright for long periods. You can learn more about postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome from the Cleveland Clinic.

Premature Ovarian Failure (POF)

Also known as primary ovarian insufficiency or early menopause, premature ovarian failure is a serious autoimmune disorder in which a woman’s immune system targets the egg-laying tissues of her ovaries. As a result, the ovaries do not produce viable eggs, resulting in infertility.

There are studies that suggest a possible link between POF and certain vaccines, and some studies have directly associated it with an adverse reaction to the HPV vaccine. You can learn more about premature ovarian failure from the National Institute of Health.

Other Possible Autoimmune Disorders and Side Effects

Here are some other reported side effects linked to the Gardasil HPV vaccine:

  • Guillain–Barré syndrome
  • chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy
  • multiple sclerosis
  • fibromyalgia
  • dysautonomia
  • death
  • Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)
  • Lupus
  • small fiber neuropathy
  • gastroparesis
  • autoimmune pancreatitis
  • chronic fatigue syndrome and chronic regional pain syndrome
  • migraines and severe headaches
  • persistent gastrointestinal discomfort
  • widespread neuropathic pain
  • encephalitis syndrome
  • autonomic dysfunction
  • joint pain
  • reproductive disorders
  • other autoimmune disorders
  • brain fog

Gardasil Vaccine Lawsuits Accuse Merck of Negligence and Misrepresentation

A pharmaceutical representative pushing a new drug on a doctor.

Currently, Gardasil vaccine lawsuits are seeking to hold Merck accountable for negligence and misrepresentation. Merck allegedly conducted faulty research, hid the possible side effects, and simultaneously blitzed the public with their vaccine.

Many Gardasil plaintiffs have suffered costly health problems. For example, there isn’t a known cure for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Premature ovarian failure may render some women unable to bear children.

A successful Gardasil vaccine lawsuit will hinge on proving one or more of the following:

  • Negligence (failing to fulfill a duty of care)
  • Failure to alert patients to possible side effects
  • Strict liability for a manufacturing defect
  • Breach of warranty
  • Fraud (deceptive marketing practices and misrepresentation of the product’s abilities)

Gardasil Lawsuits: Substandard and Misleading Clinical Tests

A laboratory technician examining slides under a microscope.Victims allege that Merck fast-tracked Gardasil through FDA approval with substantially flawed clinical trial results. Evidence compiled thus far suggests that Merck’s clinical trials for the Gardasil HPV vaccine were deceptive and lacked scientific merit.

The British Medical Journal summarized many of the objections to Merck’s methods in a “call to action” condemning their studies. For example, the company failed to give about 90% of participants in one trial a vaccination report card, which is used by investigators when they follow up on adverse reactions arising from a study.

Even worse, Merck didn’t report a large number of patient side effects and misclassified others as “new medical conditions” unrelated to the vaccine. The serious events that were reported allegedly received no follow-up, and the medical records were never reviewed.

The Placebo Problem, and How Merck’s Gardasil Vaccine Was “Tested”

In their book The HPV Vaccine On Trial: Seeking Justice For A Generation Betrayed, authors Mary Holland, Kim Mack Rosenberg, and Eileen Iorio claim that none of the control group in the Gardasil clinical trials were given a true placebo.

Instead, they were given something that contained similar chemicals to those in Gardasil, which effectively masked possible Gardasil adverse events. Unfortunately, the testing requirements for vaccines are far laxer than those for other drugs.

The authors go on to point out that the vaccine’s effects on human fertility were not studied, which could have alerted testers to the possibility of premature ovarian failure. Nor did Merck actively seek to discover whether the vaccine they claimed could prevent cervical cancer instead caused it.

The Merck Marketing Machine

Just a few years prior to release of the Gardasil vaccine, the Vioxx scandal rocked the world and Merck’s boardroom. The company paid billions to settle Vioxx claims, and Gardasil represented a very lucrative new revenue opportunity – a vaccine for a virus almost everyone would get.

Merck chose a very aggressive marketing strategy, centering on creating the perception of a “public health emergency” from HPV.

To amplify that public urgency, Merck paid groups to lobby to make the Gardasil vaccine mandatory. The company poured money into marketing Gardasil, and they were successful in many areas.

What’s Happing Right Now With Gardasil Lawsuits?

As more and more people report problems from the Gardasil vaccine and more Gardasil claims are filed, the litigation against Merck grows. As of now, most Gardasil lawsuits have been combined into a multidistrict litigation, or MDL.

MDL is a judicial method used to reduce litigation time and provide relief to injured parties. The Gardasil MDL is being heard in the Western District of North Carolina and presided over by Judge Robert Conrad, Jr.

We are proud to serve residents of Western North Carolina and have several offices in the area, including a flagship office in Asheville. Many of our attorneys are licensed to practice in the Western District Court of North Carolina, and our highly-respected litigation team is prepared to battle on behalf of those injured by the Gardasil vaccine.

Infographic with pictures and descriptions of each attorney on the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin litigation team.

Should You File a Gardasil Vaccine Lawsuit?

If you received the Gardasil vaccine, whether one dose or the full series of three, and suffered any of the side effects or negative health consequences discussed above, you should consult with your doctor if you haven’t and then an experienced attorney. A free case evaluation can give you clarity on your case at no cost and no obligation.

We believe Merck concealed Gardasil risks, and that injured patients deserve justice.

What Could I Receive for My Gardasil HPV Vaccine Injury?

If you suffered negative health effects from the Gardasil vaccine, you could be entitled to compensation for:

  • Medical expenses incurred
  • Medical treatment needed
  • Lost wages
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional trauma
  • Loss of society and companionship
  • Financial support related to the death of family members

We Are Here to Help With Your Gardasil HPV Vaccine Lawsuit

Do you think you may have been harmed by the Gardasil vaccine? At our firm, we offer a free case evaluation.

Step 1: Call us (or submit your online form and we’ll call you).

Step 2: An experienced attorney analyzes the strength of your case.

Step 3: You get clarity with no strings attached.

You don’t need anything in hand when you call. Just have a short chat with our team and we’ll see what we can do to help. We’ll always put you first.

We Will Take on Any Adversary When Justice Demands It

There is an astronomical amount of research, investigation, and work involved in a federal multidistrict litigation.

Our team of experienced litigation attorneys can take on the largest, toughest opponents. We’re currently taking on the makers of GenX for contamination of the Cape Fear River. We’re fighting for nearly 2,000 people injured by Camp Lejeune’s water contamination. And we helped thousands of Black farmers recover more than $1.25 billion in a historic civil rights settlement with the federal government.1,3

And there’s no need to worry about cost. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means there is no out-of-pocket cost to hire us and no hourly fee. We won’t collect an attorney’s fee at all unless we recover on your behalf – our attorney’s fee is contingent on our recovery for you.2

Call 1-866-900-7078 today or contact us online for a free case evaluation.

How Rare Is HPV?

An HPV infection isn’t rare – quite the opposite. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), nearly everyone will get HPV at some point in their lives and more than 42 million Americans are infected with a form of the virus that causes disease.

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What Is the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, and Why Does It Matter?

The National Childhood Vaccine Act of 1986 (Vaccine Act) shields manufacturers from lawsuits related to defects. The law created a no-fault system to prevent vaccine shortages and reductions in vaccination rates and established the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) to compensate those who were injured.

Under that law, injuries from defective vaccines go to a “vaccine court” and injured people are compensated from the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program. There are two reasons this is not necessarily helpful for those suffering from serious adverse reactions to Gardasil vaccinations:

1) The reactions were undisclosed, which is a different matter than what vaccine court hears, and 2) If a lawsuit focuses on a design defect, it is remanded to vaccine court, where compensation may be too little to cover the harms and losses you’ve suffered.

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Does the Vaccine Act Shield Makers From Liability?

No, the law specifically does not absolve makers if their negligence leads to injuries. Merck’s defense in Gardasil lawsuits has, to date, centered on the argument that the lawsuits are based on design defects and, therefore, void. A lawsuit that proves negligence in testing practices and disclosures, among other things, is not subject to this defense.

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*Years of designation for “Power List” are 2021-22. For standards of inclusion, visit https://www.farrin.com/business-nc-power-list/; years of designation for “ones to watch” are 2020-23. For standards of inclusion, visit bestlawyers.com; year of designation for “top 40 under 40” is 2023. For standards of inclusion, visit thenationaltriallawyers.org.

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