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Girls Paralysed By Gardasil Vaccine Sue Merck
By http://www.theoneclickgroup.co.uk/
July 08, 2008
Girls Claim Vaccine Paralyzed Them
New safety concerns are arising amid accusations that the vaccine to prevent cervical cancer in girls, Gardasil, can cause devastating side effects.
Gardasil, which promises to prevent cervical cancer caused by the Human Papillomavirus, is taken by millions of girls and women.
It's now alleged that the drug has paralyzed three girls, and the maker of Gardasil, Merck, is facing two major lawsuits.
According to a recent article in US News and World Report, when Jenny Tetlock was 13, she began experiencing muscle weakness about a month after receiving Gardasil. After about 15 months, she was almost completely paralyzed.
According to US News, the girl’s father, Philip Tetlock, a psychology professor at UC-Berkley, believes Jenny may carry genes that predisposed her to problems with the Gardasil vaccine. When she was 10 years old, Jenny developed a rare skin disease called pityriasis lichenoides that’s thought to be triggered by an overactive immune system.
However, Merck is facing lawsuits from two other girls who have experienced paralysis after being administered Gardasil.
Vaccine injuries specialist, Dr. Lynne Mielke, said she believes Tetlock's illness was caused by Gardasil.
According to her lawsuit, Jessica Parsons, 15, has been in and out of the hospital since she received the vaccine. She said her lower arms and legs were paralyzed as a result, but she is now learning to walk again.
Brittany LeClaire, 13, alleges that she also suffered paralysis within days of receiving her last dose of Gardasil. She began having severe headaches and lethargy immediately after the injections, and then developed paralysis in her left leg. Following weeks of having to use a walker, Brittany still walks with a limp.
Merck and the FDA are denying the allegations, claiming Gardasil is practically side-effect free.
Many parents in Virginia will be closely watching the case, News4's Tracee Wilkins reported, because all 6th grade girls are supposed to have the vaccine before attending school.
According to The NewInferno Web site, a 2007 analysis by Judicial Watch of Gardasil reports revealed that there had been at least 3,461 complaints of adverse reactions to the Gardasil vaccine. Since the Judicial Watch review, those reports now total 8,000 and include nausea, vomiting, seizures, paralysis, autoimmune disorders and 18 deaths which are under investigation due to the timing between the receipt of the vaccine and the young women's deaths.
Gardasil was approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in June 2006. At the time, Merck said clinical trials had proven the vaccine to be between 90-100% effective in preventing the transmission of some strains of HPV.
Recently, the FDA refused to approve the use of Gardasil in women ages 27-45, but Merck is working to convince the agency to approve it for boys.
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Information Provided:
* HPV Vaccine Victims Pile Up: $1.5B for Merck
Barbara Loe Fisher, National Vaccine Information Center
