Gardasil human papillomavirus quadrivalent vaccine (HPV) manufactured by Merck & Company was licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2006 for girls and women nine to twenty-six years of age. Three doses of Gardasil are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) for universal use in girls eleven to twelve years old and it is routinely administered by pediatricians, obstetrician/gynecologists and family practice physicians to grade school, high school and college students.

Chronic human papillomavirus infection is associated with the development of cervical cancer and Gardasil was the first vaccine designed to prevent cervical cancer.

Reported Side Effects with the use of Gardasil

As of June, 2009 more than twenty-five million doses of Gardasil were distributed nationwide with over fourteen-thousand reports of adverse side effects . Although Gardasil was approved by the FDA, there have been serious side effects associated with the vaccine. Some commonly reported side effects include:

Guillain-Barre` syndrome Blood clots Seizures Paralysis Fainting Hair loss Extreme fatigue Pelvic pain and severe stomach pain Death

Guillain-Barre`syndrome is a rare disorder that causes muscle weakness while blood clots have been reported in the heart, lungs and legs of women after being administered Gardasil. There have been forty-three reported Gardasil -related fatalities among females in this country as of June, 2009 who were given the vaccine. Pregnant women who have taken Gardasil have experienced fetal abnormalities and spontaneous abortions.

HPV vaccines like Gardasil have been added to the list of vaccines covered by the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) which was established to provide monetary assistance to the victims of vaccine side effects.

Pharmaceutical manufacturers are legally responsible for ensuring the safety of their products before marketing them to a trusting consumer. The failure to do so is considered negligence and is grounds for personal injury litigation.