You may have seen the recent update regarding “Science Day” and our part in the Merck/Gardasil lawsuit. Our team has been heavily involved in this suit, including during the Science Day hearing. Because of that, we are uniquely poised to give background on the suit and the issues caused by Gardasil.
When did it start?
The Multi-District Litigation, or “MDL” against Merck, the manufacturer of the Gardasil vaccine, was established in September of 2022. This was due to a finding by the Federal Judicial Panel that multiple victims had filed similar claims against Merck in Federal Courts around the Country. Multi-District Litigation is a specialized process used by the U.S. District Court system to centralize complex lawsuits for pretrial proceedings. Each lawsuit remains separate (unlike a class action), but discovery, depositions, and decisions about common questions of fact and law are addressed at the same time. The Judicial Panel consolidated those cases in the Western District of North Carolina. These are all people who claimed they had suffered severe side effects after receiving the Gardasil vaccine. Merck obtained FDA approval for Gardasil in 2006. Among other things, the lawsuit alleges that Merck omitted important information about the vaccine’s efficacy and safety, and did not perform all of the required and appropriate medical investigations and studies.
Growth of the MDL
Since then, the MDL case against Merck has nearly tripled in size, and it is continuing to grow. In November, the Court asked Merck to produce additional documents and supplement previously submitted information. The company responded with a general denial. Merck argues that it was not responsible for warning about the risks associated with the vaccine. It also urges that there is nothing wrong with Gardasil, and that it is effective in preventing cervical cancer, something the Plaintiffs seriously dispute.
Current state of the MDL
The vaccine has caused known side effects including:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Fever
- Dizziness
- Swelling of the arm
- POTS
- Encephalitis
- Stomach pain
- Tiredness
- Seizures
- Paralysis
- Anaphylactic shock
- Multiple sclerosis
- Ovarian failure/Infertility
- Death
People are contacting the National Vaccine Injury Lawyers almost daily wanting information about the MDL, whether they or their child have been injured by Gardasil, and how they can get into the case. Our experience, as well as published research, have shown that this vaccine can cause serious health issues for the individuals who take it. If you or a loved one have had health issues after receiving Gardasil, contact Downing, Allison & Jorgenson National Vaccine Injury Lawyers today.