Gardasil
US, Canada and Puerto Rico
Gardasil is a drug used to help fight human papillomavirus (HPV), which has been linked to the development of cervical cancer among women. Marketed internationally, Gardasil was administered to millions of women before it was connected to serious side effects such as seizures, anaphylactic shock, and Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS), a rare nervous system disorder. If you have received a Gardasil injection and suffered a health issue as a result, please contact the dangerous drug lawyers at Balkin & Eisbrouch, LLC.
Cervical Cancer Threatens All Women
Cervical cancer is a threat to women everywhere. Drug companies have spent a significant amount of time and money researching possible medications to help prevent this disease from forming in the female body.
Once these companies realized the connection between HPV and cervical cancer, they were able to create a drug to prevent the infestation of this virus. One of these companies, Merck & Co., received approval for the distribution and marketing of their drug by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2006.
The Marketing Campaign
Merck & Co. initiated a monumental marketing effort, encouraging females of all ages to seek preventative treatment with Gardasil. The treatment involved three injections over a several-week span.
This massive advertising campaign produced impressive results; an estimated 8 million women in the United States alone were treated with Gardasil injections. With the price tag of about $360 per treatment, Merck & Co. made roughly $1.5 billion from Gardasil alone.
Problems Began to Surface
The widespread success that Merck & Co. experienced was not long-lasting. Before long, troubling reports regarding this “miracle” drug began to surface. Women began reporting serious side effects, and 18 women died as a result of side effects associated with Gardasil. The deaths mostly involved younger women, the youngest one being 11 years old who suffered a heart attack.
The following are some side effects and symptoms that have been linked to Gardasil injections:
- Seizures
- Anaphylactic shock
- Paralysis
- Guillain-Barre Syndrome (a rare nervous system disorder)
- Spontaneous abortion
- Coma
- Convulsions
- Optic lesions
- Death
Some doctors have publicly stated that there is no reason girls younger than their mid-teens should be taking the Gardasil vaccine. If you have received these injections and suffered an injury as a result, you should seek immediate medical attention. If you live in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada, please contact the dangerous drug attorneys at Balkin & Eisbrouch, LLC to hold Merck & Co. liable for your injures.
