Thousands of children and adults may have received the Gardasil HPV vaccine and suffered dangerous side effects and debilitating reactions.
Maison Law stands ready to represent California victims in Gardasil vaccine injury claims to make sure patients receive everything they need during recovery. We are also ready to compassionately represent families who have lost a loved one to the effects of an HPV vaccine. Contact us for a free consultation to find out about the benefits available to you and your family.
Gardasil Vaccine Dangers for California Residents
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI). According to the Mayo Clinic, there are more than 100 varieties of HPV.
After contracting this virus, most victims don’t experience any negative health effects. But years later, some victims can develop cervical cancer and other cancers, including cancer of the vulva, vagina, penis, or anus. HPV can also cause cancer in the back of the throat.
The Gardasil vaccine, developed by Merck Pharmaceuticals, was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2006. There’s no cure for HPV, but the vaccine helps prevent cervical cancer in women. It also prevents other types of cancer in men and women. Well over 135 million HPV shots have been administered since they were approved.
Unfortunately, the recipients of this particular HPV vaccine began reporting harsh Gardasil side effects almost immediately. The Gardasil vaccine was and is recommended for children as young as 11 years old. Children have been the unfortunate victims of Gardasil’s health risks as well as adults who were encouraged to get the shot.
Side Effects of the Gardasil Vaccine
The Gardasil vaccine has been linked to several disorders and syndromes since its approval in 2006. Patients who have gotten the injection often experience fatigue, vomiting, or fainting after getting a shot. They may experience redness around the injection site.
These are usually temporary symptoms. But many other frightening side effects are popping up months or years later for victims. These are just a few of those health complications Gardasil patients have encountered:
- Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). One of the most commonly reported health issues with vaccine recipients. The condition leaves victims suffering from a fast heart rate, dizziness, and fatigue when they rise from sitting or lying down.
- Auto-immune disorders.
- Reproductive disorders.
- Complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). A severely debilitating injury that leaves patients feeling extreme levels of pain, usually in the arms and legs.
- Nervous system disorders. The nerves that regulate nonvoluntary body functions, such as heart rate, blood pressure, and sweating are affected.
- Neurological disorders.
These serious health issues and others could leave victims with enormous medical costs and prevent them from earning a paycheck to pay their bills. It’s critical that Gardasil vaccine victims and their families work with a California Vaccine Injury Lawyer to get the most out of any vaccine claim. This money is vital to the recovery of the victim physically and financially.
Filing a Gardasil Claim Under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program
In 1986, the United States Congress adopted the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act that, in turn, created the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP).
The VICP makes it easier for the victims of a health issue caused by vaccination to seek money to help in recovery. The compensation comes from funds that all vaccination manufacturers, including Merck Pharmaceuticals, pay into. Claimants should understand that some awards will be capped by VICP restrictions.
Victims of the Gardasil injection who have suffered from harmful symptoms for longer than 6 months may file a claim with the injury compensation program. Or, if they haven’t reached 6 months, patients can still file if they’ve required inpatient hospital care and surgical intervention. The families of victims who have died from the effects of the Gardasil vaccine could also file on the deceased’s behalf. Support is available to all victims in California, no matter their citizenship status.
The Health Resources & Services Administration website goes over the eligibility requirements further for victims exploring filing claims.
Joining a Gardasil Class Action Lawsuit
Gardasil victims and their families may also sue Merck Pharmaceuticals if they feel they are owed more in support than the VICP will provide.
They may also join a class action lawsuit against Merck Pharmaceuticals. A class action merges cases with plaintiffs that have all experienced similar harm into one lawsuit.
In August of 2022, a judicial panel granted a motion to combine all Gardasil injury lawsuits into one multidistrict litigation (MDL). An MDL is similar to a class action lawsuit. However, in an MDL, each case is usually decided separately but by one court.
If you or a family member decide to take your case to court or enter into a class action, it’s important to have a legal representative fighting for your case so it can’t be ignored. Your lawyer would also secure the strong medical evidence to prove to a judge that your illness was caused by a reaction to the Gardasil shot.
When a class action ruling is delivered, your local attorney makes sure you receive what’s fair for what you’ve been through.
Compensation for a Gardasil Vaccination Injury
Listing every medical bill you’ve received as you’ve dealt with Gardasil vaccine complications will be key to maximizing your compensation. You’ll also want to keep track of the hardships you face in everyday life as you deal with sometimes debilitating symptoms.
These and other factors can earn support in a vaccination injury settlement:
- All medical bills and estimates on care expected to be needed in the years ahead.
- Travel costs that victims have had to pay while visiting doctors and specialists. This includes trips to see out-of-city and out-of-state medical experts. Travel costs may be enormous for someone who can’t drive and/or is debilitated.
- Support for the physical pain endured by Gardasil vaccine victims.
- Support for emotional trauma suffered by victims. A loss of enjoyment of life and a loss of intimacy with a spouse can factor into the amount of a Gardasil injury settlement.
- Replacement of lost paychecks and benefits while the victim has been unable to work.
What If My Family Member Died from Gardasil Exposure?
Families who have tragically lost a loved one to a Gardasil vaccine reaction are allowed to file a claim against Merck Pharmaceuticals. They may also sue and/or join a class action lawsuit against the company.
A California vaccine injury lawyer would be arguing on the family’s behalf to earn reimbursement on all medical bills paid by a victim before death. This wrongful death claim also seeks reimbursement for funeral and burial costs. The claim also ensures close family members have what they need for the future now that the deceased can no longer provide emotional and financial support.
Contact a California Gardasil Vaccination Injury Lawyer
If you or your child or a loved one suffered a severe reaction to the Gardasil vaccine, please make sure you’re aware of the substantial compensation that is available to you and your family.
Maison Law of California exists to make sure patients who suffered frightening side effects or lost their lives after getting a vaccination receive justice.
Martin Gasparian, the founder of Maison Law, offers a free and confidential consultation for vaccination injury victims and their families. It’s a no-risk way to find out what your case is worth and how to earn the support that’s only fair from the federal government or from Merck Pharmaceuticals.
