The Sting of the HPV Vaccine

The first human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, Gardasil, was licensed for use in 2006 and is approved by the FDA for use in girls and women aged 9 to 26 years. According to the Associated Press, this vaccine is gaining a reputation as being more painful than other routine immunizations. Merck & Co. acknowledge that premarketing studies indicated more reports of pain with Gardasil shots as compared with placebo shots. The company attributes the pain to viruslike particles in Gardasil. Reports to the CDC about vaccine-associated fainting also have increased since Gardasil entered the market, from 50 reports between 2002 and 2004 to 230 reports between 2005 and July 2007 (180 following Gardasil administration).