Safety Of Gardasil Vaccine Questioned

[link to www.whotv.com]

In August of 2007, Lisa Holtman took her daughter Ashley to get the vaccine Gardasil. It was approved by the FDA the year before to prevent the sexually transmitted disease that causes genital warts and cervical cancer. "I didn't question it, " says Holtman. "Why would I? It's a vaccine so I thought it was safe."

Ashely says she started feeling sick after getting the vaccine. "I just thought I was getting a cold, "she explains. But months later, things were much worse. Lisa says Ashley started fainting, experiencing numbness in her legs and a trouble breathing. "There were many 911 calls and hospital visits, but no answers."

Lisa and Ashley blame Gardasil, but doctors say there's no link between the vaccine and illness. "The nice thing about this drug is that it's been thoroughly studied and tested," says Dr. Erik Bedia, a local OB/GYN.

Holtman points to a CDC reporting system, showing thousands of issues ranging from headache and nausea to death. Thirty-nine deaths have been reported to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System, or VAERS, but according to the CDC there is no proven association between Gardasil and the deaths.

"In regard to deaths, none are attributed to the vaccine." Says Dr. Bedia. "Certainly, you know, you could get the vaccine and months later be in a car accident and die. There's a correlation because of timing, but it's not because of the vaccine, it's because you were in a motor vehicle accident."

Dr. Gary Clark is a pharmacist who agrees that Garadsil is effective, and safe. "When you talk about medications, you talk about cost v. benefit." He says. "The benefit is high, the cost is low so there's really no question about it."

Lisa Holtman disagrees with the doctors. She's convinced Gardasil turned her daughter into a chronically ill young woman and says they'll keep sharing their story with anyone who will listen. "I want it off the shelves. There needs to be more research. It's not safe. My daughter was healthy before this vaccine."
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This was on the local news tonight.