Gardasil Vaccine Left Teen with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Heart Problems, Lawsuit Claims

A North Carolina man says a Gardasil vaccine injection he received as a teen left him with severe health and heart problems, which have caused him to give up his active lifestyle at an early age.

Chase Clarke filed the complaint (PDF) against Merck & Co., the manufacturer of the Gardasil HPV vaccine, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina on August 11.

Merck has marketed Gardasil since 2006, for vaccination against HPV infections, which can be sexually transmitted and lead to the later development of cervical cancer. The injection has been promoted for use among both young girls and boys before sexual activity, and has become widely recommended by medical providers throughout the U.S.

However, a growing number of parents and young adults are now pursuing a Gardasil lawsuit against Merck, claiming the drug maker has withheld critical safety information about the risk of autoimmune disease problems from Gardasil, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) and other debilitating conditions, which leave otherwise healthy and active young children with serious disabilities.

According to the lawsuit, Clarke was 19 when he received his first Gardasil vaccine injection in December 2019. However, after receiving the HPV vaccine, Clarke began to feel his heart racing and numbness on the left side of his body.

The side effects of the Gardasil vaccine worsened over time. In addition to heart palpitations and numbness, Clarke also experienced migraines, chronic fatigue, insomnia, brain fog and vision problems. He was eventually diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome, heart arrhythmia and heart palpitations.

The lawsuit blames the illness on the Gardasil vaccine, noting that Clarke had an active and physical lifestyle until he received the injection.

“Prior to receiving the Gardasil vaccine, Plaintiff was an active person who played soccer and basketball. Plaintiff also frequented the gym and enjoyed going on walks,” the lawsuit states. “After receiving the vaccination, Plaintiff has avoided physical activities due to body pain and fatigue.”

Clarke presents claims of negligence, breach of warranty, and common law fraud.

September 2023 Gardasil Lawsuit Update

Clarke’s lawsuit will be consolidated with about 100 other similar lawsuits over the HPV vaccine currently pending in the federal court system, which have been centralized as part of a Gardasil MDL (multidistrict litigation) in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina.

There are also a substantial number of additional claims pending in the U.S. Vaccine Court, where families must initially bring a petition seeking compensation under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program, before they are able to bring a civil lawsuit if the claim is not resolved within eight months.

Given common questions of fact and law presented in the HPV vaccine lawsuits, U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad is presiding over coordinated discovery and pretrial proceedings, which is expected to involve a series of early bellwether trials designed to help gauge how juries are likely to respond to certain evidence and testimony that will be repeated throughout the litigation.

While the parties work to prepare cases for trial, Gardasil injury lawyers are continuing to investigate and file new lawsuits for individuals who experienced a variety of complications from the HPV vaccine, including:

• Autoimmune Diseases
• POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)
• Premature Ovarian Failure
• Premature Menopause
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
• Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura (ITP)
• Irregular Heartbeat/Tachycardia
• Lupus
• Neurologic Disorder
• Brain Fog or Chronic Inability to Concentrate
• Chronic Fatigue
• Chronic Pain
• Severe Headaches
• Difficulty Sleeping
• Fibromyalgia
• Nerve Damage
• Menstrual Disorders/Problems
• Gastrointestinal Issues (food intolerances, nausea, vomiting)

Following coordinated discovery and any bellwether trials in the federal MDL, if the parties fail to reach Gardasil settlements or another resolution for the litigation, Judge Conrad may later establish a process to begin remanding each individual claim back to U.S. District Courts nationwide for individual trial dates in the future.