is there any risk in taking the cervical cancer vaccination?

Answer 1

As far as I'm concerned it is really a bit of an issue, particularly with respect to young school age girls where the Gardasil vaccine is also being promoted strongly. This vaccination cannot be taken lightly and although it is said to provide protection for upto 85% of HPV, there seems to have been an insufficient length of time (approx. 5 years) of trials to determine any likely side effects. This and the fact that the trials where conducted by the manufacturerers themselves (Merck and GlaxoSmithKline) and not an independant body, is of concern in itself! Further the age of the study group was 15 -26 years, and yet it is being promoted to girls under 15 that have yet to reach puberty. What effect is this likely to have? Who knows?
There are numerous articles on the safety and possible side effects and indeed the long term effectiveness of Gardasil to raise sufficient doubt in ones mind as to the necessity of having this particular vaccine. In all it appears that this drug was rushed through before full approval and in fact the FDA have stipulated for Merck to continue the monitoring and long term trial for girls under 15 years to confirm its safety. For us as parents there is sufficient doubt as to the safety that we postponed getting the vaccination for our daughter, until further studies and information comes to hand.

Following are some links to articles on the vaccine which you may wish to read. Ultimately it comes down to a risk evaluation of your own self and if you believe that you may sufficiently at risk of contracting the disease and the precautions that you may need to take so as to minimise the risk.

Answer 2

GARDASIL - The new vaccine manufactured by Merck & Co., for HPV virus which causes Cervical cancer, has mixed response from public. Though there is great demand for this vaccine among youngsters mainly for the reason that the HPV virus is getting in their body due to sexual activities. FDA have approved the vaccine as safe. Here are certain fact about this vaccine - Gardasil -

Is Gardasil safe?-
Clinical trial data have found it is safe.

Does Gardasil protect against all cervical cancers?-
No. The vaccine does protect against the strains of HPV most likely to cause cancer. But it does not protect against all HPV strains.

However, recent reports suggest that the vaccine may give wider protection than originally thought. There is preliminary evidence it may offer some protection against other HPV strains, which cause 8% or 9% of cervical cancers.

How effective is the new vaccine?-
Studies have shown it is 100% effective in the prevention of cervical precancers and noninvasive cervical cancers caused by HPV-16 and 18 in those not already exposed to those strains, according to Merck & Co. Inc., which makes Gardasil.

If someone is already sexually active, will this vaccine still work?-
If a person has been infected with any of the four strains the vaccine protects against, the vaccine won't provide protection against that type. But it will prevent infection from the other three.

But on the other hand certain reports say Gardasil has not been proved if it is safe. if the person is already affected by HPV Virus this vaccine will not work. Another important fact is it work only against the Virus and not cervical cancer.

So, in nutshell it may be said, irrespective of some reports, there is NO RISK in having this vaccine-

Answer 3

Another eight deaths in just the past few months are being connected to Gardasil, Merck & Co.'s vaccine that targets the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus and is being considered by many states as mandatory for all schoolgirls, according to documents released by Judicial Watch.

There also have been another 1,824 adverse reactions to the drug, bringing the "known total" of such problems to 3,461, according to the public interest group that investigates and prosecutes government corruption.

"In light of this information, it is disturbing that state and local governments might mandate in any way this vaccine for young girls," said Tom Fitton, the group's president. "These adverse reactions reports suggest the vaccine not only causes serious side effects, but might even be fatal."

Answer 4

unfortunately yes
dont get it on an empty stomach and some people do get reactions from it and become sik, but that is rare
also it only covers aproximately 70% of cervical cancer cells

Answer 5

There might but im not sure-i've had 3 so far (i think you only gaet 3 injections anyway) and nothing happened to me or my other classmates. (we get it through school).

there's probably not a high % of risk, but there must be some risk because one girl in the year below mine started hyperventilating. but she's the only one who has reacted so far.

Answer 6

No risk =]

There is more of a risk if you dont take it =]

Im getting mine next week =]

Good luck!