Gardasil?! I Think I’m Going To Faint!
9 CommentsBy Ed Silverman // January 3rd, 2008 // 6:20 pm
In recent months, health officials say they’ve noticed an increasing number of reports of fainting associated with Gardasil, the Associated Press writes.
From 2002 to 2004, there were about 50 reports of fainting; from 2005 until last July, there were about 230. About 180 of those cases followed a shot of Gardasil, which came on the market in 2006. But it’s not clear that Gardasil’s sting is related to the fainting increase, Barbara Slade, an immunization safety specialist at the CDC, tells the AP. Health officials also note more complaints that the vaccine is painful.
Teens, however, tend to faint from needles, so a three-dose vaccine for adolescents would be expected to prompt some added fainting, she says. Researchers aren’t sure why teens faint more than other age groups, but nervousness may be a factor.
Caroline
I have all 3 Guardasil shots at age 24 and the shot hurt a little bit, but not more than having cervical cancer. It was definately worth it and my 13 year old step daughter will be getting the shots soon, too.
Alysa
I recieve all three shots and honestly they didn’t hurt. It’s a shot and something that is foreign to your body, so yes it doesn’t feel normal. But hurt and sting are not the words I would use. And I certainly didn’t faint or think that the shots were not worth it. 3 shots to raise my chances of preventing me from strands of HPV, is hands down the best option.
JSherry
I commend all girls/women who have this shot. It makes me so mad when the media writes articles like this and they have no idea. CLUELESS! I was told at 20 years old that I had cervical cancer and I am tellingyou now that if this lifesaving vaccine was available 25 years ago I would have gotten this vaccine. It is a shot for crying out loud. It will hurt a little. BUT it is better than dieing at a very young age. I am one of the lucky ones out there. I have two beautiful children and if it wasn’t for my awesome doctor….it would not have happened. My oldest has had the vaccineand I asked her about it. She said it is like any other shot and it is better than going through what you did. My youngest is 9 and will be getting the vaccine as well.
PARENTS: Don’t let this hype scare you. Save your childs life and get them this vaccine. You put them in a carseat and ask them to waer a seatbelt, don’t you?
Another thing…….THE FDA didn’t approve the shots before 2006!!! So where is this information coming from?????
Ed Silverman
Hi JSherry,
This post didn’t attack or promote the use of Gardasil. It simply pointed out what the Associated Press wrote about increased reports of fainting apparently associated with vaccination.
Admittedly, the headline and picture are smarmy, but I don’t believe they denigrate the larger health issue that you raised.
Thanks for stopping by,
ed at Pharmalot
Lynda F
A little reading found me this gem:
“According to the American Centers for Disease Control, getting as many girls vaccinated as early and as quickly as possible will reduce the cases of cervical cancer among middle-aged women in 30 to 40 years and reduce the transmission of this highly communicable disease.”
How can they guarantee that the vaccine WILL reduce the number of cases of cervical cancer in middle aged women 30-40 years down the road, when they’ve only just discovered the vaccine. There is LESS than 20 years clinical testing and no definitive long term results. Hell, they don’t even know IF the protection lasts more than a few years (which would mean that you’d have to re-vaccinate every 4-5 years of course).
I’m glad I have no young children any longer, for I would not subject my child to any UNPROVEN vaccination. My child would NOT be big pharmas guinea pig.
I only pray these young girls aren’t damaged for life after 20 years.
James
Lynda F,
I’m glad your children weren’t young in the mid-late 1950’s, when polio vaccine was being tested on “guinea pig” children.
Yoda
Linda Fool,
My lady, interesting comments on the vaccine. Correct that we do not know what will happen with the vaccine 20 years from now. Nor do we know how fat pharmaceutical guinea pigs will be 20 years from now. However, we do know that cervical cancer kills in less than 20 years. I would bet on the vaccine. Have you ever seen anyone with cervical cancer move through diagnosis to death? It is not without tears and severe depression not only for the patient but for the family, friends and even the nurses.
An open mind is like a parachute, it works a lot better when it is open!
Are you kidding me — pharmaceutical guinea pigs.
Yoda
Lisa Gifford
I am wondering if Gardasil is given to young teens with the suspicion they will have sexual relations that may lead to HPV. Or does Gardasil protect against other diseases and condidions?
HorusCat
I am glad I don’t have a daughter…I’m not sure what I would do. On the one hand, I definitely would want her protected. On the other hand, I wouldn’t want to seem to be giving permission to be sexually active.
Of course, I do have sons, including one who is 14. I have thought about the whole, “Do I give him a condom” thing.
Whew! This is a hard one.