Why Are Gardasil Vaccine Lawsuits Being Filed?

When you chose to vaccinate yourself or your child against HPV, you trusted that you were making a sound medical decision. You believed the promises of protection against certain cancers. What you didn’t expect was the possibility of trading one health concern for another serious condition. 

For thousands of people across the country, that is exactly what they claim happened. Now, many of them are filing lawsuits against pharmaceutical corporation Merck, seeking answers and accountability for injuries they believe were caused by the Gardasil vaccine.

The Purpose and Widespread Use of Gardasil

Gardasil is a vaccine designed to protect against human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection linked to cervical cancer and other malignant conditions. Since its FDA approval in 2006, the vaccine has been administered to millions of adolescents and young adults worldwide.

Merck launched an aggressive marketing campaign promoting Gardasil as an essential preventive measure. Television commercials, physician incentives, and school-based vaccination programs created pressure on parents to inoculate their children. 

For many families, declining the vaccine felt like an irresponsible choice. This widespread marketing effort helped Gardasil become one of the most commonly administered vaccines in the United States, generating billions in revenue for Merck.

Reported Adverse Events Following Vaccination

Since Gardasil entered the market, patients have reported thousands of adverse events to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), alleging that they developed serious health problems after receiving the vaccine. Between 2015 and 2024 alone, researchers extracted 23,499 adverse events related to Gardasil from the VAERS database.

Conditions associated with the Gardasil vaccine include:

• Autoimmune disorders, including lupus and Guillain-Barré syndrome
• Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS)
• Neurological disorders
• Chronic fatigue syndromes
• Chronic pain syndromes, including complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS)
• Fibromyalgia
• Blood disorders such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP)
• Reproductive disorders, including premature ovarian failure (POF)

The volume and consistency of these reports have raised serious questions—and prompted many affected individuals to pursue legal action against Merck.

Plaintiffs State That Merck Knew About the Risks

Gardasil lawsuits allege that Merck was aware of the potential risks associated with the vaccine but failed to adequately warn consumers and healthcare providers. Plaintiffs point to certain vaccine ingredients, including amorphous aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate (AAHS) and polysorbate 80, as potentially dangerous. Lawsuits further claim that Merck used AAHS-containing placebos in clinical trials rather than inert substances, potentially masking the true rate of adverse reactions during testing. 

Determine If You Have Grounds for a Gardasil Lawsuit

Gardasil vaccine lawsuits represent an opportunity for those affected to seek accountability and fair compensation for the harm they have suffered. Generally, you are eligible for a Gardasil lawsuit if:

• You received one or more doses of the Gardasil vaccine.
• You experienced serious side effects afterward, such as autoimmune disorders, POTS, chronic fatigue, or chronic pain. 

A Gardasil lawsuit attorney can help determine whether your health issues may be connected to the vaccine and guide you through the legal process with clarity and compassion. If you or a loved one has experienced serious adverse effects after receiving the Gardasil vaccine, you deserve answers. Reach out to an attorney today for a free, confidential consultation to explore whether you may have grounds for a claim.