San Antonio Injury Attorney Blog
As vaccines become more and more prevalent as a means of preventing illness and disease, we need to take a strong look at potentially devastating side effects from such vaccines.
Take for example the wonder drug known as Gardasil. Pharmaceutical juggernaut Merck has touted Gardasil as a significant step forward in the prevention of cancers, specifically cervical cancer. The majority of cervical cancers are believed to be linked to the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), in which HPV infections are suspected to be the major culprit behind cervical cancers and STDs such as genital warts.
The HPV vaccine is currently being given to girls and women between the ages of 9-26, and now Gardasil has recently become available to be used in boys and men between the ages of 9-26.
However, the data now seems to suggest that some girls who receive Gardasil to guard against cervical cancer may be at greater risk of contract Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) , a rare neurological disorder that affects the peripheral nervous system. Individuals with GBS often experience paralysis that can start in the legs and slowly rise upwards to the upper body and face. In GBS, a person’s immune system is essentially trying to destroy part of the person’s nervous system.
A flu virus or illness can cause Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) , but a vaccination or surgery can also create the conditions for GBS to occur.
In addition, there is research which now suggests that amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease may also be linked to Gardasil or the HPV vaccine. Lou Gehrig’s disease is fatal and such a vaccine injury represents a wrongful death product liability suit . Researchers have determined that the timing of the ALS symptoms in conjunction with the receipt of the vaccine suggest a link between Gardasil and Lou Gehrig’s disease.
Merck has denied any link between Gardasil and GBS , but the data suggests otherwise. The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System , a joint effort between the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control , indicated an incidence of over 50+ cases of GBS following HPV vaccination in the last 3 years. An overwhelming majority of the cases developed within 6 weeks after vaccination, with about 20 cases or so developing within the first 2 weeks of vaccination. The onset of symptoms within 2-6 weeks after vaccination is a classic timeline for GBS. Although the risk is low, the association between vaccines and GBS has been known to be an after effect since the mid-70s swine flu outbreak.
There are several law firms that are well positioned to handle Gardasil vaccine injury cases. You need attorneys who are specifically licensed in the Federal Court of Claims and handle cases due to vaccine injury. If you or a loved one have suffered a Gardasil vaccine injury and you need a Gardasil HPV Vaccine attorney , contact a law firm immediately.