A summary of the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) has appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association  today, reporting some serious complications and deaths resulting from the much-touted Gardasil vaccine. There has been controversy surrounding the vaccine since 2006, largely surrounding mandatory vaccines for school-aged girls.

Gardasil is recommended for girls and women aged 9 to 26. Although some experts believe the veracity of VAERS data is lacking, there have been 32 deaths following administration of the vaccine. There have also been reports of blood clots and neurological problems following vaccine administration. There is little data, however, to prove that the vaccine is the causative agent in these cases.

The question remains: should administration of the vaccine be halted until a satisfactory answer can be found as to whether the vaccine caused these deaths, rare though they are? Some say yes, while other experts still believe the vaccine is safe, and that the problems associated with the vaccine are rare and possibly not related to the vaccine at all.

Patients need to weigh the pros and cons of receiving the vaccine carefully. The jury is still out as to whether the vaccine performs as has been advertised, and for how long the vaccine will provide protection. Experts state that the best way to prevent cervical cancer (short of abstinence) is to encourage routine pap smears for all women. The Pap smear is still the “gold standard” for cervical cancer detection. Women must weigh their own personal risk factors for both the disease and the vaccination in order to decide the right course for themselves.

Experts say the next step in determining the safety of the vaccine will be for the CDC to step in and investigate the adverse reactions, including the deaths, associated with the vaccine.

Related Links:

Despite Gardasil Vaccine, Pap Smears Still Necessary from Health Guru

Information from CDC and FDA on the Safety of Gardasil Vaccine  from the FDA

Reports of Health Concerns Following HPV Vaccination from the CDC