We have talked about the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine a lot on this site. And for good reason! People still have a lot of questions about it since it has only been around a relatively short amount of time, yet it is mandated in some states. There has also been a lot of news coverage of people reporting negative reactions to the vaccine, yet the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) continues to assure us it is safe. Authorities in Japan, however, feel differently.

Class Action Lawsuit to be Filed in Japan

In 2013, the Japanese health ministry began recommending that girls between the ages of 12 and 16 be vaccinated against HPV to protect against cervical cancer. But that recommendation was halted just a few months later after people began to report adverse results.

According to Japan Times, “2,022 people suffered side effects out of an estimated 2.59 million who had received injections of Cervarix by the end of 2014. Out of an estimated 790,000 people given Gardasil 453 experienced side effects.”

12 of those who suffered negative side effects are now planning to file a class action lawsuit against the Japanese government and against the makers of Cervarix and Gardasil. Those vaccines are made by Glaxo Smith Klien and Merck respectively.

No Class Action Lawsuit Planned for U.S. Courts

Numerous studies in the United States and in Europe have discredited claims very similar to the ones being made by the Japanese victims (the lawsuit hasn’t been filed yet, so this is just based on what Japan Times reported), so it will be interesting to see what happens as the lawsuit planned by the alleged HPV vaccine victims in Japan moves forward. Studies linking to vaccine to the harms the victims are claiming would need to exist in order for such a lawsuit to be filed in the American court system.

That is not to say that the HPV vaccine is without negative side effects. The CDC says that people who get the HPV vaccine commonly experience:

  • Pain, redness, or swelling in the arm where the shot was given
  • Fever
  • Headache or feeling tired
  • Nausea
  • Muscle or joint pain

Like any injected vaccine, other more serious complications can arise. The government has recognized this, and added the HPV vaccine to the list of vaccines covered by the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.

HPV and the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program

If you experience any of the following complications following vaccination for HPV, you may be eligible for compensation through the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program:

All Vaccine Injury Compensation Program claims must be filed with the United States Court of Federal Claims Office of Special Masters, the Vaccine Court. The Vaccine Court uses technical and specialized rules and procedures, so it is important to work with an attorney who has experience with the vaccine court.