by Dr. Wendy (OB/Gyn)

Question

What are the risks of taking the Gardasil vaccine?

Answer

Local irritation at the injection site is the most common side effect of the vaccine, and some women had a mild fever. A recent concern was brought up about reports of deaths in women who took the vaccine, but these deaths WERE NOT RELATED TO THE VACCINE ITSELF. If a woman had the vaccine and got hit by a car 2 weeks later, a death would be reported, but not attributable to the vaccine.

The number of deaths in the vaccine group is no greater than that in the population of women not taking it, and there has been no causal relationship to the vaccine. It is FDA approved and recommended, and I have no hesitation about the safety of the vaccine.

GARDASIL is a registered trademark of Merck & Co., Inc.

Wendy Fried, M.D., FACOG, FACS, is an OB/Gyn with Northern Obstetrics and Gynecology, PC in North Hills, New York

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