HPV vaccine does not increase the risks of Guillain-Barré syndrome, but needs monitoring

A study presented this week at the American Academy of Neurology’s 61st annual meeting in Seattle supports last year’s blog cautioning against making cause-effect conclusions from anecdotal reports and tragic patient stories linking the HPV vaccine (Gardasil) with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS).

In the report, researchers examined data from the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) in which 36 cases of GBS were reported to have occurred after vaccination in the United States from 2006 to 2008. The University of Medicine and Dentistry in New Jersey study reports that the disorder occurred within six weeks after vaccination in 75 percent of the people, and in 60 percent, HPV was the only vaccine administered at the time (the remaining 40 percent received the HPV vaccine along with others).

The results showed that LGB does not occur more often after HPV vaccination than it does in the general population. However, the fact that most of these cases occurred within six weeks of vaccination was felt to warrant careful monitoring.

—Orly Avitzur, M.D., medical adviser to Consumers Union

Comments

[Melanie]

1 in 3 women will have HPV some point of their life. I know several women who have or had it. No offense, but maybe you should do a little more research about HPV. HPV is the most common STD. I must agree that most drugs aren't fully researched by the FDA. Hopefully, this will change soon.

[Nina Kenney]

Gardasil is a risky, unnecessary and under-studied vaccine. Thousands of girls and young women across the United States, Canada, and the UK have suffered many ill effects from it. I am frustrated with the medical community and the governement's constant dismissal of the adverse side effects and how staunchly they protect Gardasil. The bottom line is this, annual pap tests have drastically reduced cervical cancer in the United States and I believe with every fiber of my being that the risks are far greater for a young woman to develop an adverse event from Gardasil than she will develop HPV and/or Cervical Cancer. Stop and think of the women in your life who have or are currently suffering from HPV and/or cervical cancer. How many? In my life, the number is 0.

[Laura]

What would happen if someone with Guillain Barre Syndrome came across Swine Flu?? Would they survive it?? Do they have any cautions they need to prevent from getting?