New concerns about Mercks' Gardasil safety

Washington, United States, February 8: Cervical cancerdefine is caused by several types of a virus called human papillomaviruses (HPV) which spreads through sexual contact. It is the second most common cancer in women around the world. According to the World Health Organization, each year 250,000 women die from cervical cancer.

Currently, cervical cancerdefine vaccine is available without any cost to all females below 26 years and has been injected to millions. However, there have been side effects for a few hundreds including headache, blood clots, fever, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, diarrhea, hallucinations and paralysis.

In a latest investigation report by CBS News, there are new concerns about the Mercks' Gardasils side effects and found that the much-touted vaccine against cervical cancer Gardasil, might not be as safe as once thought.

Gabby Swank, a young teenager who was a straight A student and a cheerleader, got sick right after getting a standard dose of 3 Gardasil vaccinations. “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 told CBS News.

After Gabby became sicker after each shot, progressing to seizures, strokes and cardiovascular problems, her neurologist suspected Gardasil was to blame. Gabby isn't cheering anymore and is too sick to even attend school.

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

Past year, American government officials said that there is no relationship between Mercks’ Gardasil and serious adverse events like Gabby's, but a new analysis calls that finding into question.

Chris, daughter of Emily Tarsell, died 21 days after getting her third dose of Gardasil vaccine (one of 29 fatalities in the US in two years) sighed and wished that her daughter had never had Gardasil. The vaccine had caused 5, 000 ER (emergency room) visits and the reports of side effects went up to 30 times higher with Gardasil.

"We would never have gotten the shot and she'd be here to hug," says Emily Tarsell.

Since its approval by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2006, Merck has claimed that Gardasil is practically side effect free. Both Merck and the FDA say they continue to review the data and also added that Gardasil remains safe and effective, and its benefits outweigh the risks.