Gardasil Side Effects Caused Neuropathic Injuries, Skin Reactions, HPV Vaccine Lawsuit Claims

42 year old Plaintiff received three injections before learning her complications could be linked to side effects of the Gardasil HPV vaccine

While most Gardasil HPV vaccine lawsuits have been filed by teens and young adults, a recently filed claim alleges that a 42 year old woman developed severe skin reactions and neuropathic injuries from Gardasil side effects.

The complaint (PDF) was filed by Michele Damiano in the Supreme Court of New York on January 13, claiming that Merck & Co. failed to disclose information to users and the medical community about the potential risks associated with the widely marketed vaccine for prevention of HPV infections.

Gardasil was first introduced in 2006, and has been promoted as safe and effect for use among teens and young adults before sexual activity, to provide protection against HPV, which can be sexually transmitted and lead to the later development of cervical cancer. However, the vaccine is also used among a number of adults in their 30s and 40s.

Following a growing number of reports linking Gardasil side effects to serious and disabling injuries, including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS), premature ovarian failure, premature menopause, neuropathic injuries and other autoimmune disorders, hundreds of lawsuits are now being filed against Merck throughout the U.S.

According to the lawsuit brought by Damiano, she was 42 when the first Gardasil vaccine injection was administered in December 2018. Only a few days later, Damiano indicates she developed a rash over her right eye, which did not easily resolve. Then, after her second injection, she developed more skin reactions, including extreme pruritus on her legs to the point she had to seek medical help, and also developed unrelenting malaise and extreme fatigue.

Because she was unaware the side effects were caused by Gardasil, Damiano received a third injection in July 2019. This one led to severe joint pain, and debilitating fatigue.

“As the months progressed, so did Plaintiff’s symptoms. She was seen by multiple physicians and specialists for her complaints which now included: joint pain, neuropathy, foot and ankle pain, back pain, face and neck pain, hand pain, general body pain, extreme fatigue, chronic mouth sores and pain, dry eyes and dry mouth, chronic eye edema, drooping skin around eyes, heart rate symptoms, and GI issues,” the lawsuit states. “None of the doctors could figure out what was wrong.”

The lawsuit claims Merck knew or should have known about the health risks and purposefully deceived the public about the safety and effectiveness of the Gardasil vaccine.

February 2023 Gardasil Lawsuit Update

While this lawsuit was filed in a state court, most Gardasil injury claims are consolidated in a federal MDL (multidistrict litigation), which was established in August 2022. Given common questions of fact and law presented in the claims, all Gardasil injection cases are currently pending before U.S. District Judge Robert J. Conrad in the Western District of North Carolina for coordinated discovery and pretrial proceedings.

As parties continue to work with the Court on the organizational structure of the Gardasil vaccine litigation over the remainder of 2022 and early 2023, lawyers continue to investigate and file lawsuits for individuals who experienced a variety of complications linked to Gardasil side effects, 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 held to help gauge how juries are likely to respond to certain evidence that will be repeated throughout the claims, if the parties fail to reach Gardasil vaccine settlements or another resolution for the litigation, each individual claim may later be set for individual trial dates in the future.