Advice for Parents on Gardasil Vaccine for HPV

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After finishing the round of 3 shots, my 13 year old daughter developed symptoms of Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. She's been suffering for almost a year. We're finally going to see a rheumatologist, after waiting 4 months for an appointment. We've had to wait for a pediatric rheumatologist since no other one will see a patient under 18 years of age. To help get her comfortable, I took the alternative medicine route. We're working with a chiropractor to relieve some of the inflammation with not only getting her joints adjusted, but by also using electrode therapy and vitamins and supplements. Once we started going to the chiropractor, she finally started feeling some relief and she was able to walk more normally. Since JRA is an auto-immune disorder, I'm praying we can get her condition into remission.
I have three other daughters. They WILL NOT be taking the Gardasil vaccine. I will not allow their immune system to be exposed to vaccines until I thoroughly investigate them. As a parent, it's horrible to know I unknowingly put my child in harms way.
I have reported Gardasil to my insurance so that if there is a law suit against the pharmaceutical company, we can be involved. We've also complained to the FDA. Let's get Gardasil off the market. Growing girls should not be exposed to this toxic vaccine. Growing girls should not be subjected to health issues related to a vaccine.

Janell of TX 10:17AM September 08, 2009

As a 10-year survivor of HPV and cervical cancer, I would like to add input from the other side of the coin. As someone who counsels and works with women to educate them about HPV and cervical cancer, I can honestly tell you that lifetime dealing with these conditions is much worse than the shot. HPV NEVER clears your system and doesn't go away. Now that doesn't mean you will develop cancer, but it does mean merely having HPV puts you at a higher risk for cervical, anal, penile, vaginal, head, neck and throat cancer.
Now, while only 2/3 rds go on to develop cancer within a few years of the inital risk, the biggest part of the equation people are missing is that around your 30s and 40s, this disease comes roaring back and can kill you. It robs you of your dignity, trust, fertility and future. I personally can tell you that I know donzens upon dozens of women who have had hysterectomies before the age of 25 because of this disease and will never eperience the joy of carrying their own child.
In the US alone, there are 6.2 million new HPV infections each year, for both men and women under the age of 40. If you figure more than about 10 percent move from just testing positive to actually having high risk HPV, that is a little more than half a million people each year.
Now, I am not saying you should vaccinate, but I do want to make people aware that these are the facts about HPV. Condoms offer little to no protection, as it is a skin infection that is transmitted to soft tissues and is often in areas condoms do not protect. Second, abstinence doesn't always work, but does protect. Third, you do not need to have intercourse to contract HPV - kissing, heavy petting and touching can transmit the virus, as does oral sex.
Finally, more than 90 percent of all adverse reactions with the vaccine deal with fainting, pain at injection site and nausea.I am sorry that some young women are dealing with major medical issues after getting it. It is devastating, but whether you get it or not is personal decision each parent and child needs to make together -and not something that should be pulled off the market because of hysteria or false reports by some.
For those of us who continue to survive, we can only wish we could have received the shot and bypassed dealing with the nightmare HPV and cervical cancer presents. I would not wish this on my worst enemy nor say it was God's plan for me. It is an evil disease that detroys lives and people. I am fortunate to have lived and escape it's cluctches, but for each survivor I know, I can personally name 10 more young women who have died.

PJ - Cervical Cancer Survivor of CA 8:10PM August 25, 2009

After 2 of the 3 shots, my daughter was one less child in school, extracurricular activities, family activities, and church for much of last year. She has finally gone three months without a major "spell", and I consider that a good sign. 30 days after the second shot, she developed a disabling fatigue, along with upper abdominal pain, sore/tight throat, headaches and a host of other symptoms. She was unable to even sit up in bed for more than a few minutes for more than a week. She recovered and relapsed several times and is better right now. Extensive blood work, radiology, and endoscopy have turned up nothing other than a diagnosis of mild gastritis.
I regret allowing my daughter to have this vaccine. If you are reading this to determine whether to allow your own daughter to have it, please wait. Much more research is necessary.

Melissa of TX 4:35PM August 25, 2009

How can a vaccine that is supost to save our daughters life almost cost then their lifes, or in some case take their life. It has been a year and a half since my daughter received the first of three shots. She has spent over 17 weeks in the hospital as well as a month in a rehab facility learning how to walk again all because of this HORRIBLE VACCINE. She now hows life long health problems, but we are considered one of the lucky ones because she has survived this deadly vaccine many other mothers no longer have their daughters. My heart breaks everyday because of a decision I made my daughter has servered horribly it also breaks for the parents who no longer have their beautiful daughters.

Kim of MO 9:04AM August 25, 2009

I appreciate your reporting on the drug Gardasil. Here's another story you could write:
Survey the executive ranks at Merck and find out if they are giving Gardasil vaccines to their own daughters. If they are, they are standing by their product, and they must believe it is worth whatever the risk is.
If they aren't vaccinating their own children, you've got a heck of a story.

Curious Reader of NY 7:47AM August 25, 2009

My 14-year-old daughter was flat on her back for 3 full days after getting this vaccine last week. She was too dizzy and nauseous to lift her head, and could not keep down food or liquids. A week later she's been to the emergency room, gotten a prescription for an anti-nausea drug used for chemo patients, and seems to be improving but my wife and I are getting the scare of our lives from this.
Parents: Please research this drug before your children are vaccinated. We'd hate for anyone to go through what we and apparently many others are experiencing from the side effects of this drug.

Alarmed Dad of VA 7:40AM August 25, 2009

My daughter has some kind of neuroligcal problems. I have taken her to every kind of DR that you can imagine. NONE want to realize this could be a reaction to GARDASIL. I DO NOT know how to make her better. It's been 6 months and she is still have some sort of seizures. Her muscles have a mind of their own, electric like waves go through her spine, shivers, jerking of limbs, uncontrolable muscle twitching, eyes rolling back into her head. She was a very healthy 17 year old until she got the shots. She complained of joint and muscle pain after the first shot. I thought they were working her too hard at Cheer practice. 2nd shot, complained more, nausea, headaches, stabbing pain in her stomach, I NEVER once imagined that it could be the vaccines. Then came that THIRD shot, the one that pushed her little body over the edge. Last shot 1/2/2009, violent seizures on Feb 2, 2009 at school. Hauled away by ambulance on 3 different occasions Four ER visits, 4 hospital stays. Yet, nothing to help her. The DRS ran every test you can imagine, all normal. They say it's stress. However, as I read the postings & watch the Youtube videos, I realize all the other girls have the same problems as my daughter. This has been a very scarey ordeal for us. I am writing, not only to tell our story, but to suggest that Gardasil have more testing done so it is safer for our girls. The DRS say they are not aware of any side effects like hers, yet, I can find them all day long. ONES that are very similar to my daughters. I really feel they need to do more testing on this vaccine. My daughter has had every vaccine required, without any reactions. Something in this vaccine has done something to her system. Please don't let other moms struggle like I have, have Merck do more testing and list more side effects on their advertising. If I had known sore muscles & joints were something to watch for, I certainly would not have taken her back for shots 2 & 3 and she would be healthier today. Adolescent years should be carefree and happy, not sick & struggling to attend school

momonamission of MO 11:28PM August 24, 2009

Please continue to report on this vaccine. It is NOT safe and not even proven to work. Not only does one of the original scientists come out to say it's not safe and questionable, but look at the numbers on the VAERS reports. Something is definitely wrong ... I am concerned that there may be horrific consequences for those children that are deficient in specific vitamins (niacin and other B vitamins). I should have done more research before I had my daughter immunized with this vaccine. She has been sick ever since the second shot. It took me a long time to put it all together. Unfortunately, her adrenal system is completely messed up now thanks to Gardasil. Why do we allow the pharma. companies to sell a drug without it being fully tested? And why was this drug tested in Costa Rica ... there is a completely different genetic structure than the typical American girl there ... WHY WHY WHY ??? $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

R. Boyce of NC 7:53PM August 24, 2009

My 17 year old daughter was healthy prior to her first Gardasil injection. Since the first shot, she has been diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy. She experienced dizziness, headaches, muscle weakness so extreme that I had to support her in order for her to walk, numbness and tingling, skin sensitivity, chest pain, racing pulse, shortness of breath, shooting nerve pain to her arms, back pain. All of this started exhibiting itself the morning after her first Gardasil shot. I am so thankful that she started having a reaction the day after her shot or else she would have had another one and would have been even sicker. She has lost the last 4 months of her life due to this vaccine.
How the FDA can allow this drug to stay on the market is unfathomable to me. The VAERS reports show 15,700 injuries due to this vaccine and that is only a representation of those that have made the connection of symptoms to the Gardasil. 32 deaths of which 14 are girls under the age of 16! How many more deaths are required before Gardasil is investigated? What will it take?
My daughter is now "One Less" healthy, vibrant 17 year old. Thanks MERCK!

Bailey of TX 7:13PM August 24, 2009

My 13 year old daughter was injured by Gardasil and completely disabled for the past year. Merck got it right when they used the slogan "One Less" for Gardasil. Because of Gardasil, my daughter was "One Less". She was "One Less Student", "One Less Active Child", "One Less in every aspect of her life". Take it from a mother who has spent the past year sitting by my child's beside wondering if she would die in her sleep. INVESTIGATE BEFORE YOU VACCINATE. DO NOT trust your doctor to make this decision. If you want to understand Merck's role in the medical community, investigate some of their former wonderdrugs such as VIOXX and then marvel at how many people died from it before it was pulled off the market. The CDC AND FDA need to do their job and get this off the market before more children are harmed. The public is not aware of VAERS and the #'s are grossly understated. I have had to tell my child's doctors about VAERS and make them file reports or she would not be one of the current statistics in VAERS. Even then, her information has not been entered correctly so I know that VAERS is not what it should be.Please do not let this happen to your child.

Rosemary Mathis of NC 6:54PM August 24, 2009