HPV Vaccination - Side effects

HPV vaccination - Side effects

Side effects of HPV vaccination

Yellow Card Scheme

The Yellow Card Scheme allows you to report suspected side effects from any type of medicine that you are taking. It is run by a medicines safety watchdog: Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). See the Yellow Card Scheme website for more information.

Following clinical trials, the vaccine used in the UK human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination programme (Cervarix) was shown to cause side effects in some people.

Immediately after having the injection, you may experience a stinging sensation or slight pain that lasts for a short time. Other side effects may take longer to appear.

Very common side effects

Very common side effects of the HPV vaccine include:

pain at the injection site
redness or swelling at the injection site
headaches
muscle pain
tiredness

These side effects occur in around 10%–15% of vaccine doses.

Common side effects

Common side effects of the HPV vaccine include:

nausea (feeling sick)
vomiting
diarrhoea
abdominal (tummy) pain
itchy skin
a red skin rash
hives (urticaria – an itchy, red rash)
joint pain
a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or over

These side effects occur in less than 10% of vaccine doses.

Uncommon side effects

Uncommon side effects of the HPV vaccine include:

upper respiratory tract infection (infection of the nose, throat or windpipe)
dizziness
other reactions at the injection site, such as a hard lump, tingling or numbness

These side effects occur in less than 1% of vaccine doses.

Very rare side effects

It is not possible to reliably estimate how frequently other side effects may occur. This is because the information about them is received from people reporting the side effects themselves, rather than in controlled, clinical tests.

In very rare cases, it is possible for someone who has had the HPV vaccine to experience a more severe allergic reaction, known as an anaphylactic reaction (anaphylaxis or anaphylactic shock). Signs of an anaphylactic reaction include:

breathing difficulties and wheezing
swollen eyes, lips, genitals, hands, feet and other areas (this is called angioedema)
itching
a strange metallic taste in the mouth
sore, red, itchy eyes
changes in heart rate
loss of consciousness

Severe reactions like this are very rare. From April 2008 to July 2010, there were 41 anaphylactic reactions reported to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA – the medicines safety watchdog). Out of four million doses given from September 2008 to July 2010, that makes such reactions very unlikely.

If a severe allergic reaction does occur immediately, the healthcare professional who is giving the vaccine will be fully trained in how to deal with it.

If you are with someone and they start to experience the symptoms of anaphylaxis, dial 999 immediately to request an ambulance.

See the Health A-Z topic about Anaphylaxis – Treatment for more information.

Last reviewed: 23/09/2010

Next review due: 23/09/2012

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Comments

70 Comments about ‘Side effects’

Our rules:

Comments are personal views. Any information they give has not been checked and may not be accurate.

toybell said on 12 January 2012

i haven't had my second injection is there anything that can happen?

toybell said on 12 January 2012

hi i haven't had all the injections i am 13 i got an injection on the 29th of (i can't remember i think it was November last year) and i missed the second injection i am really worried what are the side effects

Freda Birrell said on 02 January 2012

To all of you who have had serious reactions to the HPV vaccines have a look at our web www.sanevax.org where you will see similar stories of injured girls from the UK. It is a good way to speak with one another and make contact and also to find ways of improving your health. It can be done but with support it makes it so much easier. Get in touch with us as soon as you can. Governments do recognise that vaccines can cause serious side effects and would support a helping hand to those who have been unfortunate to have experienced serious health issues.

Steve CA7 said on 02 January 2012

My fair lady, Julie, Tina, etc, etc. Our daughter Lucy was in constant pain and sleeping several hours each day for 3 months after her HPV jab and then in a coma-like condition for 13 weeks. She woke up the week before Christmas and the only treatment she has had is to drink Fiji mineral water every day (the high silica content is supposed to take the aluminium toxin from your body), It is only available from some branches of Waitrose or an importer in London.

You also need to be in touch with others with similar problems - try Googling 'Relax-well' and speak to Grace.

Ellie xx said on 21 December 2011

I am 17 years old and have been suffering many of the symptoms listed above. including fatigue, lack of energy, tiredness, headaches,pains in stomache,lack of appetite,dizziness, balance problems got considrabley worse, fainting. Some of the symptoms I havent experienced but my symptoms have been going on for over a year. It started a few months after I had my 3rd vaccine for Hpv. I went to the doctor with many of my problems and asked if the hpv vaccine could have caused this as that was the only new thing to my body.
Due to all my symptoms I have been able to do most of year 11. I did my Gcses at home and had to and still need constant supervision. As i have fallen out of many chairs due to the fainting. The doctors think I suffer from ME as I am so tired alot of the time. After just a little bit of walking I feel absolutley dreadful, very worn out. I dont understand why.I have seen many different doctors with my symptoms and we are still struggling to find the cause of my symptoms. My dad read a newspaper article in the paper saying about the link between ME/CFS and the hpv vaccine. The hpv vaccine seems the most likley cause of my symptoms. I have read alot of the comments on this page and realise im not the only one suffering. I feel alone with my symptoms like no one knows what its like. Its only thanks to my supportive family that I havent been into hospital more time due to my collapses.
I am very keen on learning and am doing a cource at home. I dont have many friends as alot of them havent been there for me and thought I was making it up. Its nice to know there are more people out there.
I am very shocked that people have had these symptoms over 2 years and am very worried for my future being like this.I would like to know the cause of my symptoms and if it is the hpv vaccine how come no body has mentioned these symptoms before I had the vaccine. I feel like ive made myself ill.

juliejohns said on 18 December 2011

Having read through most of these comments..... it has made me realise that this vaccine could possibly be why my daughter has been unwell for going on 2 years now. She was perfectly healthy before hand, but after having this vaccine she spent over a year anaemic, fainting (whilst sat down!) feeling constantly tired, appetite very poor, stomach problems (which she is still suffering with), dizziness, and headaches. She is still recovering from all these after 2 years, shes 16 now but is not the out going bubbly girl she once was. She missed most of year 10 at school, so this as massively effected her school work and her relationships with her friends. She no longer goes out prefering to spend most of the time in her bedroom. Motivation is very poor- I'm at a loss really what to do to help her.
Because she missed so much school she feels like an outsider, and has become almost a recluse.

It maybe just be pure coincidence but after reading so many other parents comments on here and other websites this really does seem to make sense now. I honestly feel that this vaccine was the cause of all the above illnesses ive listed.

I would advise parents who's daughters are to have the vaccine in the future to really do your research so you can make an informed choice. I only wished i had been given the opportunity.

K Stone said on 08 December 2011

I'm adding my comment to help raise awareness that some girls do have severe reactions to these vaccinations. My daughter had the first vaccination in March 2009 (aged 18) and became very unwell approx 48 hours later. In the following 6 weeks she saw 8 different health professionals with a range of symptoms including dizziness, fatigue, feeling very bloated, headaches. She had the 2nd vaccination and approx 48 hours later became very much worse, with very severe dizziness and fatigue - only then we made the connection, it was too much of a coincidence. My daughter was diagnosed with CFS/ME after 6 months. We insisted a Yellow Card was filed after the 2nd vaccination, however this would not have been recorded as CFS, as symptoms must exist for 6 months for a diagnosis to be made. CFS continues to hamper her everyday life and she fervently wishes that she had not had the vaccinations.

tina71 said on 08 December 2011

My daughter had her hpv vacine on 30 sept this 2011. 2 weeks after this she started with severe fatigue, tummy ache, sever headache (every day) loss of appetite and the list goes on. I have only just decided to research the connection between the hpv vaccine and it seems to me that there is a massive connection.
My daughter was a very fit, active and healthy young lady with a very good social life apart from suffering migraines, this is sadly no longer the case and she says that she just wants to be better.
It as a mother is very upsetting to see this and i just wish that we had been prperly advised re this vaccine.
I no longer have any solutions re this problem and was wondering if anyone had any help for me and how long this could last for?
Thankyou
a very distreesed mum of a beautiful young girl

Mrs Halliday said on 07 December 2011

The Government does recognised that all medicines, including vaccines, carry a risk of side effects. Whilst the overwhelming majority of people can be vaccinated safely or with only very minor side effects, very rarely an individual will suffer serious side effects. In considering healthcare provision to protect the population and individuals, Governments often have to make difficult decisions. In the case of the HPV vaccine, the best information we have is that for the vast majority the vaccine is safe, that it will save many lives and that it will reduce serious illness associated with cervical cancer.

my_fair_lady_xx said on 06 December 2011

To Steve CA7,
I'm really sorry about your daughter i wish she didn't have to go through it. I hope she gets better soon and when she is a little better if she ever wants to talk i'll be here xx

Steve CA7 said on 05 December 2011

Our daughter Lucy is very, very poorly. She has slept constantly for the last 9 weeks, we wake her for food and the toilet but she is only semi-conscious, she hasn't opened her eyes or been able to speak, she is in considerable pain. She has been diagnosed with extreme severe CFS/ME. There is no cure.

She was healthy and no reasons have been found for her illness. The onset of her illness coincided with the day she had the HPV jab but we are re-assured that it is sheer coincidence.

The NHS Choices website is an excellent website for providing good factual information on this matter – see the following page:

http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/HPV-vaccination/Pages/Side-effects.aspx

You can then make an informed decision about the suitability of this vaccine for your daughter.

my_fair_lady_xx said on 04 December 2011

hi,
i am 16 years old and i had the hpv jab 2 years ago, about three days after i had the first jab i started to get severe pain in my lower back and hips, i went from doctor to doctor, and first went on crutches, i also went and saw a physiotherapist who made me see that my symptoms weren't normal.
I was getting better when i had my second jab and i went back to square one. it was my physiotherapist who suggested my pain might have been caused by the hpv jab.
I am know seeing a pain specialist who has diagnosed me with having Chronic Pain Syndrome (CPS) and he has said it was almost definatly caused by the hpv jab.
2 years on and i am still suffering, i have to sleep in my mums bed as i cant get up the stairs, i havent gone out with my friends in over a year, i used to be a cross country runner and an aspiring actress and know i can barely move, i cant walk or play tag with my little brother and im left watching as every one else lives the life i should be living.
This drug only covers 2 of the hpv virus', and only for 6 years, ive lost so much due to this, ive lost my teenage years, and i cant get them back.
I dont know how long im going to have this problem but its already been 2 years to long,

I dont know how to explain how it feels to be in this situation apart from saying :
It's like standing still watching the world keep turning leaving you behind so that it's all you can do just to hold on with your fingertips and pray .

Mrs Halliday said on 04 December 2011

The NHS is interested in feedback: 14 months following 2 shots of the HPV vaccine, my daughter has been unwell. Serious side effects as recognised by the Government. The NHS does not recognised side-effects so we are not getting the right treatment for her.

Anna Watson said on 01 December 2011

I understand that Cervarix has been taken off Black Triangle, however, there is no evidence from the patient that active surveillance was ever used for Cervarix, Gardisil, the vaccine which the UK govt has chosen to replace Cervarix, still remains with a black triangle. I trust that listening to the patient, which is at the heart of the new White paper, will extend to vaccines.

JCR21 said on 30 November 2011

NHS Choices welcomes comments on this subject. However, we cannot accept any posts that give medical advice, including whether or not to have a vaccination. Any comments that offer such advice will be removed from the site. Please bear this in mind when posting.
Thanks

C Ryalls said on 30 November 2011

I would like to make others aware that side effects to the Cervarix and Gardasil HPV vaccines are not only mild or short lasting.
My daughter had her Cervarix jabs last year and has suffered often debilitating side effects for about 14 months now and they show no signs of decreasing.
Her symptoms after hte jabs have included: extreme fatigue, severe abdominal pain, joint pain, muscle pain and weakness, fever, nausea, regular headaches, constant sore throat, hair loss, decreased appetitie, loss of feeling in her right arm and leg, menstrual problems and irregularities, breathlessness and new symptoms show regularly. She has missed a lot of school and her illness has affected her beloved sport and dance activities.
She was extremely fit, healthy and happy before her vaccinations. Now we never seem to be away from the doctors.
It took us a long time to make the connection between the vaccination and her symptoms because there was a three week lag from jab to illness and I didn't think extreme fatigue, muscle aches and joint pains would be connected with a vaccine - I expected short lasting and mild side effects if anything. I find the literature very misleading.

janis louden said on 29 November 2011

My daughter has been suffering from long term side effects of the HPV vaccine. She was vaccinated in 2008/2009. These include the following: severe and ongoing abdominal pain lower right side, upper abdominal pain, severe muscular pain in her legs, blurred vision, low iron, TSH levels rising (indication of hypothyriodism), tiredness, no energy,loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea (this is a daily battle), unable to sleep, menstrual cycle changes and irregularities, cycts in ovary, breathing difficulties, chest pain, recently diagnosed with pleurisy, she says herself - she just wants to feel well.
I believe parents and their daughters deserve honest, transparent and balanced information regarding the side effects and adverse reactions of the HPV vaccine and their long term effects on health and well-being.
Mrs J Louden

Anna Watson said on 29 November 2011

I was at the PRIMM ADR Conference this year and the MHRA had a spokesperson. It was confirmed that only 6% of the UK public knew about the Self reporting of the Yellow Card System. So more than 90% of adverse reactions may be going unreported.

It is vital to plan for active surveillance in the community because there will always be side effects not seen in trials which only test on healthy participants aver a short period of time.

Vaccines are never tested with a benign placebo, always other vaccines or part of vaccines. So when a patient finds that a drug or vaccine has adversely affected them, especially if they are debilitated afterwards, they should be properly investigated. They are not!

Those who put in Yellow Cards are not telephoned or contacted in any other way. Only if someone registers for compensation under the vaccine damage payment fund are the details taken and investigated. Otherwise, the Yellow Card system does no more than give an overall view of reports, rather than form the start for investigation. The authorities need to listen to the patients, which I hope they do under the new White paper where the patient will be more involved.

Cervarix® and Gardasil® vaccines both carry a black triangle symbol. This is a standard symbol added to the product information of a vaccine during the earlier stages of its introduction, to encourage reporting of all suspected adverse reactions. Doctors, nurses, pharmacists or parents can report a suspected adverse reaction to the Commission on Human Medicines (CHM) using the Yellow Card reporting scheme (www.yellowcard.gov.uk).

janis louden said on 28 November 2011

Casper commented in June 09 that the MHRA are proactively encouraging reporting of yellow cards and accepting that the reports are fully in line with what was expected at that stage of the programme.
Yet the paragraph on your page states under the heading very rare side effects, that it is not possible to reliably estimate how frequently other side effects may occur. This is because the information about them is reported from people reporting the side effects themselves (on yellow cards I assume) rather than controlled clinical trials.
Which is it to be? You cannot have this both ways.....

C Ryalls said on 28 November 2011

Support is available for girls injured by the HPV vaccine - just google 'Support for girls injured by HPV vaccine'

janis louden said on 28 November 2011

I have been advised, by letter, that 'the European Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) concluded that all medicinal products manufactured using recombinant DNA technology may contain small fragments of residual DNA. The presence of recombinant DNA fragments in Gardasil is therefore not unexpected.'
The letter also states that 'there is no plan to investigate whether Cervarix contains small fragments of viral DNA.'

I would like to ask the following: Are the school nurses or NHS staff administering the HPV vaccination aware that this is the case?

Freda Birrell said on 28 November 2011

I would like to share my concerns with My Fair Lady and so sorry that she has suffered such a severe reaction which it sounds as if her specialist agrees. The previous health records of these girls is important in that if they were healthy, active, athletic and full of life and then something new occurs like a medication or a vaccine, they suddenly change to being ill, new symptoms appearing and having great difficulty in coping. My Fair Lady you are not alone and you could contact me via my name and facebook.
Take care.

Mindano Iha said on 28 November 2011

We assume that manufacturers and promoters of vaccines know all about their products but this is not necessarily the case.

Here is a list which includes 27 relevant issues which Merck does not appear to know about their own vaccine Gardasil:

http://vactruth.com/2011/11/04/27-dirty-little-vaccine-secrets/

Freda Birrell said on 28 November 2011

My apologies, I see the comments have now appeared. Thank you.

Freda Birrell said on 28 November 2011

I commented to My Fair Lady not so long ago and noticed another two comments of help for this young girl. These comments were posted but now have been removed. Can you tell me why please as at no time did I make any disparaging remarks about the vaccine. I only offered to be there for this young girl if she wished to communicate - it would have been her choice. It may well be that you will re-post and I hope that you do but it would be helpful if you could explain to me why suddenly the comments were there and now have been removed. I am not anti-vaccine am just concerned about a young girl who has been become ill and is frightened.

beckilea said on 19 April 2011

Hi,
I had the course of HPV jabs starting at the beginning of December 2010... after having the first injection, a rash came out on my hand, and the site of the injection was very painful... after a day at school i felt very ill and tired. The day after my injection i had a very heavy and painful early period and since have not know when my periods would be as they were appearing sometimes every 2 weeks to constant bleeding. I went to the doctors and they advised me that it was nothing to do with the injection, however it seems a little uncanny that my periods were as regular as clockwork but then suddenly a complete mess. After the second jab in Jan 2011 i felt a little better than before and no rash appeared. As i was sixteen i went on the pill in attempts to control my periods which has worked a treat. But in Feb 2011(before starting the pill) i noticed i seemed to be starting feeling sick or being sick regularly when consuming food. I'm now being treated at the doctors for this, and having blood tests as they do not know what caused it. I'm wondering if anyone experienced anything similar and if its possible the HPV jab could have caused this sickness?

Thanks

EJH15 said on 07 April 2011

I finished my course yesterday, at the beginning I thought, It's only an injection, It's better to be safe than sorry, so I had it. With my first two injections, I was fine after them, just an aching arm but since I've had the last one, I haven't been feeling brilliant. After reading the side effects and I found out that there was 24 different ones, I acctually have 12 of them (50%). I have numbers 1,2,3,4,5,6,9,12,16,18,21,25. Eventhough I'm feeling too good, I'm sure it'll be worth it!!

ErinBlueX said on 02 March 2011

I just finished my course yesterday and i was shocked at the fact that I had an uncommon symptom!
Erin, 13

terrible said on 16 February 2011

Last September my daughter was to have the HPV injections. I was pleased that the school included a Cervarix Package Leaflet: Information for the User.
It states:
“Cervarix should not be given if the person is allergic to any of the substances.” - When I looked at what it contained! Well, how was I to know!
“Cervarix will not protect against all types of Human Papillomavirus.” - no, only two, admittedly 70% of cervical cancer cases.
“Duration of protection after vaccination is currently unknown…for 15-25 year-olds up to 6 years” Would she need to have booster injections at 18 (what? and again at 23 until cervical screening starts at 25?)

I then found the NHS Choices website and read the side effects (which was also on the Cervarix leaflet) and was very concerned. 960 women died in 2008 from cervical cancer thats 2.4 deaths per 100,000 females (only 7% of cervical cancer deaths occur in women under 35) Yet the Cervarix leaflet boldly stated that uncommon side effects may occur in less than 1 per 100 but more than 1 per 1,000 doses. At that time there had been 1.4 million doses given (Three doses per girl?!). I felt so strongly against drug companies selling vaccines to the government to pump into our young girls until further research and study had taken place that I declined these injections because I felt the risk of cervical cancer at this point in her life was less than the risk of side effects.

I was hoping that NHS Choices was going to update its site after review on 17/09/10. I see that it has been updated but, sadly, from reading these comments, not all information is being supplied to parents.

Help! If I decide that future evidence against the vaccine is negligible, and would like my daughter to receive the injections, would she still be able to have them through the school, along with year 8 girls, in any year while she is still at school (ie until she is 18?) Many thanks

Freda Birrell said on 06 February 2011

Hi was concerned to see the singling out of Grace Filby for public comment. Like all of us Grace does have a right to pass on comments, as you have the right not to print them. It does not help your cause to single an individual in this way. I can add some more concerns about the HPV vaccine and these are quoted by two professional bodies, the MHRA in their October 2010 report where they state their concern and lack of understanding that there have been very serious cases of arthralgia reported - arthralgia being a recognised side effect. Where the concern is that the young people are experiencing much more serious joint problems and for longer periods of time than is considered acceptable after vaccination. Secondly, the College of Optometrists in their November/December 2010 issue of the Opticians Bulletin have highlighted the possibility of visual problems being experienced by young girls who have been vaccinated with the HPV vaccine. This professional body is aware that there have been cases of visual impairment, blindness, blurred vision occurring in UK girls after vaccination with the HPV vaccine.
Perhaps NHS Choices needs to look seriously at these issues instead of coming back to the same comment 'the vaccine is safe'. The young girls who became ill after vaccination with the HPV vaccine sadly cannot agree with that, nor can their families.

RosieTalk said on 02 February 2011

To Grace Filby,

We do not allow users to give medical advice in the comments section; it is a platform on which to discuss treatments, conditions, experiences or content only. All NHS Choices content is signed off by clinicians.
___________________________________
NHS Choices moderator/UGC Manager

Grace Filby said on 15 December 2010

Thanks Fifijane - Glad to hear your daughter is getting better now with alternative therapy. I have heard from various parents who say the same about hospitals not being willing to make the connection with the HPV vaccine, but there is firmly documented medical evidence too

fifijane said on 11 December 2010

Grace Filby

Sorry just looking at site again today and noticed your comment. Yes it was Sept 09, sorry. Her headaches are still there but alot less since alternative therapy. She is managing to cope better with them now. Consultant suggested migraine type tablets for a month then see but I have opted not to give her these as not keen on medication. Going to continue with alternative therapy for the time being. Caused alot of stress for us all and not a nice experience for my daughter. Have heard of a few others having same symptoms. Hospital did not take me on at all when I suggested it was linked but not surprised by this. Thanks.

_Kathryn_ said on 08 December 2010

I note from the side effects listed on NHS Choices that seizures nor convulsions were present.

Under certain circumstances loss of consciousness can lead on to a seizure. For example; my daughter's friend received her second vaccination, two hours later she had a seizure. This child didn't faint, she was having a seizure, her head fell to the desk of where she was seated, her limbs were jerking and her fingers were twitching.

CAllen said on 15 November 2010

I am 14 years old, and had my 3 doses last year.
I think that some of you may think my opinion invalid, seeing as compared to most of the people (parents) commenting on here, I am very young. Each time with the vaccine, it hurt at the site of injection, but it wasn't bad at all. In fact, I went bowling the night after I had my vaccination with my friends (most of which, had the vaccine also) and the pain was so minimal the that action didn't trouble me. I understand the worry of your daughter's well being, but I cannot recall anyone in my school suffering from any of the side-effects that I did not have. Compared to the actual virus itself, in my opinion, the side-effects are nothing more than a nuisance. I would also like to add that I have noted most of the comments on here are either indecisive or bad. I think this is because if good results occur, parents, or daughters, don't feel the need to recall their injection on the NHS's website.
If you have read my comment, thankyou for your time, and I hope that my view was helpful and will actually be taken into consideration.

CAllen said on 15 November 2010

I'm 14 years old, and had my 3 jabs last year.
I don't know whether my opinion would be valid, because compared to the people who are commenting on this page (parents) I am very young.
I just wanted to state that I did have pain at the injection site, but it wasn't at all bad. In fact, it hurt so little that I could still go bowling with all my friends (most of which, also had the vaccination) and didn't get troubled by it. I know most of the parents commenting on here are worried, but the chances of having any severe side-effects are minimal, and compared to the actual virus itself, the side-affects are little more than an annoyance. I also wanted to state that I don't know of anybody who had the jab at my school having any side-effects that I didn't.
If you have read my comment, thankyou for your time, and I hope that I have been helpful.

Grace Filby said on 05 November 2010

fifijane,

I wonder if you could clarify the date when your daughter had the first of the 3 injections - was it September 2009 rather than 2010? My holistic health practitioner colleagues just wanted to be sure of the sequence of events - we have stated our concerns about this HPV vaccine programme ever since it started.

jjx said on 03 November 2010

I had the injections last year and apart from them hurting , me not being able to move my arm above the shoulder because it hurt a little and being a little itchy when and after I had had them(which is really what you expect fro a vaccination) I was fine. If you think that you or your daughter is going to react badly to them then you could your daughter checked for any of the main ingredients in the injection maybe? It may be a silly suggestion but it may work. Remember that it will lower the risk of cervical cancer because it immunises the body against the main (70%) causes of cervical cancer, HPV type 16 and 18.
Sorry I was doing homework on Cervarix and came across this article and looked at the comments and thought it may be useful to some people considering the injections.
Hope this helps...

jjx said on 03 November 2010

fifijane said on 31 October 2010

My daughter started the injections on 15.09.10 and had the 3 doses. She has had a constant headache since 16.08.10, always present and some days severe. She has missed alot of school so far, she is 14yrs old. The doctors have given no diagnosis - MRI scan clear, not diet related, not sinuses, not tension, blood tests clear. Only when I went to a lady who does alternative therapy did she say she thought it was 100% related to the HPV injections she received. These headaches are very distressing and upsetting for us all and hopefully we can find a a way forward from here. Back at the hospital soon for a review of headaches, will see what consultant suggests. Will post any further info I get that may be useful to others. Will also post if alternative therapy working.

Grace Filby said on 20 October 2010

I would like to know why this NHS Choices page update, reviewed 23.9.10, omits many of the points from the Post-marketing surveillance about side effects associated with Cervarix. This information was made public by the European Medicines Agency since 9th December 2009 - many months ago, and is on the Summary of Product Characteristics.
Do the public have to wait another two years for the NHS Choices page to have up to date information?

Wendk said on 27 September 2010

My daughter is due this vaccination this week and I have been waiting for the website to be reviewed. The last time it was reviewed was in Sept 2008-and it was due for review on 17/09/10-I'd like to know for my own peace of mind, just what exactly has changed in 2 years? When is it going to be updated with new results? A lot can change in 2 years. I won't be letting my daughter have it until I know exactly what it could do to her.

Bry057 said on 21 September 2010

After reading these comments I am still none the wiser about my daughter having the vaccine.

There are 13 types of hpv's that cause cancer but the vaccine is just for 2 of these, whats that all about!

The vaccine is being offered to older girls but the vaccine is said to be less affective once sexually active as you may already have hpv so the age of screening should be brought down.

I dont have to make an informed decision until next year so it would be nice to have access to proper facts and figures so we can make an "informed" decision.

I never gave my daughter the MMR so the likelyhood of her having this is slim.

I look forward to reading more comments

Bry057 said on 21 September 2010

After reading all these comments i am still none the wiser, do I let my daughter have the vaccine or not.

The vaccine is only protecting against 2 types of hpv and there are 13 types that could cause cancer so whats that all about!
Also I have read the vaccine is not as effective when the person is older (as in sexually active) so the age of screening should be brought down.

I never gave my daughter the MMR so the likelyhood of her having this vaccine is slim.

I am so glad it will be at least a year before the decision is made.

Grace Filby said on 20 September 2010

This is a reply to Kait F.

You could print out this webpage and ask your mum to read it?
Also mention that this website is called "Your health, your choices", and the general principle of the Cervarix programme is that it is voluntary. I have it in writing directly from the current Secretary of State for Health, Andrew Lansley, 2 years ago that it would be voluntary. I think, legally, the decision is up to you.

Well done for doing your own research on the side effects beforehand.

The NHS leaflets just say that side effects are "quite mild" but that is not what people are commenting here.

kait F said on 19 September 2010

hi i am 12 years old and am due my HPV jabs . i really dont want them but my mum is forcing me. after reading the above comments i am really dreadind them. how can i get my mum to change her mind.

markhalli78 said on 14 September 2010

my daughter reacted badly to the first injection, she had dispropotionate amount of pain, i had o collect her from school. they went ahead with the second jab. Very soon after she started having blinding headaches, dizzyness, she had to start wearing glasses. Seven months later she is still getting these headaches, dizzyness. Although she got good GCSE results she was down in her expected grades in a few subjects.
I have been searching for a link to what could have caused her illness and it is only the last couple of days where i realised the link with the cervical cancer jab

The headacjhes are already causing her problems at college and i am worried of the effect they will have long term

allin1990 said on 19 July 2010

I am a 19 year old girl, i was advised to have the cervical injection in october 2008. I was told there was no severe side affects or nobody had been seriously harmed by the injection.
So i went ahead and had my first injection, i began to suffer with joint pain but i was told this was normal and then went ahead and had my second injection when i become very ill.
I was passed onto my GP who then refferend me to a speacialist. I have now been diagnosed with Rhumatiod Artheritus as a cause of these injections. I never went on to have my third injection.
And now i am a disabled 19 year old girl who doesnt go a day without being in serious pain and most days unable to walk.

bronachcrabtree said on 12 July 2010

I am a 14 year old girl and I was offered the HPV Vaccine last year, but i refused it. I totally agree with Mr & Mrs Martin and so did my parents.

I decided along with my mother not to have it because not only because of the side affects that were just brushed aside by the school nurses but because I would have to receive the vaccine again when I was 18 and Have boosters and check ups anyway throughout my life and because as a 14 year old girl I am not planning on having un-protected sex before I'm 18.

A few people touched on that they didnt want their dughter to feel peer pressure if they didnt get the Jag but Apart from a few snide comments by some unfriendly girls in my class it was Fine. One comment but that I took very seriously was from one girl that said, " ... haha well now you'll get cervical cancer..." but after a while I let it slide.

Me and my mammy discussed the different ways of preventing the cancer including regular smears, so i felt much Better.

http://www.comelook.org/Intro.html

hepo said on 04 July 2010

I'm fully in support of the comments from Mr and Mrs Martin. The information being made available is biased - which seems suspicious! Full information needs to be made available.

I would like to talk about what happened when my daughter brought the letter home from school last week. It arrived on Tuesday, with a request that it should be handed in by Friday!!! This is a huge decision that we have to make: do we risk the vaccination and potentially compromising our daughter's health over these important developmental years? Do we expose her to peer pressure as a result of choosing not to have it? Can we anticipate how we might feel if she doesn't have the vaccine and she later develops cervical cancer????
I chose not to hand the form in and am taking time t do some research, so I have the full facts.
Meanwhile, my daughter's teacher asked a full classroom "who hasn't handed their form in?" my daughter and a friend bravely put their hands up. So now this very private and prsonal decision is made public! I was horrified. This information should be confidential. Such is the pressure that we should immunisation our daughters!!!

Comments welcome!
Hepo

hepo said on 04 July 2010

I've just been offered to have my hpv vaccination and turned it down after reading all of the above comments! Thinking about it its possible u might die from the vaccination itself but if you dont get it u might die frm the cancer!

Me + mum were wandering, can anyone tell us whats acctually in the vaccine? Can you point us to an article or piece of research?

Thanks, Hepo

charlotte998 said on 31 March 2010

I'm charlotte and I have had my 3 HPV injections and to be honest they wern't that bad now I think about it. I had my first in september then the next in october then I just had my 3rd one yesterday morning. After the 1st one I wasn't well at all! I felt dizzy, I couldn't stand up and I looked like a ghost! After the 2nd one, I felt fine just a bit tired, then after the 3rd one yesterday I was fine! but now I have like cold symptoms... maybe I'm just getting a cold. There's loads of girls in my school got a rash after the 3rd one but I'm all good so far apart from the cold. But I think it's better to be protected from different types of STI's. I willing to suffer to save my life. Thank-you NHS!

rachel1994764 said on 04 March 2010

ive had the first two, one in october and then one in november and have the third end of april i think.
after the first one i felt awful. i was really dizzy, felt really sick, had a fever, headache, couldnt stop shaking but the school nurse wouldnt send me home. ialso couldnt move my arm for about a week much and it really hurt when i knocked it or something brushed against it.

the second one wasntso bad but i couldnt move my arm for a week and ithurt if knocked orbrushed against again. i felt bit sick and dizzy and bit weird but it wasnt as bad as first one but still felt awful.

got third one in april and really not looking forward to it. the injectoin is horrible i could feel the liquid going into my arm. and i felt so ill after it i wsa thinking was it really worth it. now of course i know it was but it just makes you so ill and tired its awful.

obviously everyone reacts differently but most people i know were like this

fionawow12345 said on 20 February 2010

i am 16 years old and just had my first hpv jab and was not informed of any side effects, and am noe experiancing serveer pain in the left arm and unable to even lift my arm, and woud like to know how long i should expect this as it is affecting my sleep, and my ability to day to day tasks because of the pain.
I do not regret having the jab but would have preferred to be informed of the side effects and how long they are expected to last.

katharine r said on 11 February 2010

my daughter had her 1st vacination in oct 2008 and was ill afterwards she then had the 2nd injection and was again ill, her problems have still continued since oct 2008 she as very bad sickness migranes chest pains tiredness. she missed wks from college and is still suffering from it now , after repeated blood tests and the camera down her throat she is still no better, she as lost lots of weight due to bein sick all the time, sometimes she can get up in the mornin and be fine and then other days be bad for several days , she is only 19 yrs of age and this seems to be ruinin her life and puting everything on hold i still blame it on the vaccination and she did not av the 3rd doze i av 2 other girls and neither of them have ad it, this injection as ruined my daughters life she never knows from one day to the next if she is goin to be well enough to do everyday things,

Charliiy said on 31 January 2010

I havent had this vaccine yet as my college didnt tell me they were doing it until a day before :L
But im going to my doctors to have it done soon. When i finally get some free time. Im really scared about it and i hate needles and pain and injections. haaa.
But what would i rather do have the vaccine and have less chance of getting Cervical cancer and possibly dying or have a jab and concur my fear. Wish me luck! charliiy x

crg101 said on 26 January 2010

I am 19yrs old and had the HPV jabs in Dec 08, Jan 09 and June 09. I have experienced nausea, diarrhoea and an upset stomach/ digestive problems ever since (about 6 or 7 months now).
It's really frustrating because I thought it was a really good idea to protect myself against cervical cancer but I have had health problems ever since so seriously wish I hadn't had these jabs.
I think it's too early to say that these vaccines are "safe" because it is relatively new and there are at least 1300 people suffering from adverse effects, including myself.
I read an article which said that the jabs have a salmonella bacterium in them which stimulates the immune system and think this is probably why I am ill.
I have had 3 blood tests, a breath test and an ultrasound scan and have still not got to the bottom of my illness.

Flo91 said on 26 January 2010

I am 18 and recieved my second HPV vaccine last week, which was late as I was not permitted to reciece my first one as I had a temperature and was on Antibiotics at the time.

Admittedly, both times I have recieved the vaccine I have had horrible side effects, including blinding migranes, nausea, fainting spells, vomiting, dizziness, a high temperature, aching muscles and severe pain in the arm. However, these only lasted two days, and I would much rather experience these knowing that I am a lot safer from cervical cancer than missing this oppurtunity to skip these symptoms.

It is ridiculous to pass this chance up because of being frightened of a couple of days of side effects, and even more ridiculous to forbid your daughter to on her behalf, as it is her own body who would be missing out on the innoculation.

I can confirm, the only side effects I was warned about was the possibility of a headache, faintness, and a sore arm, but if anyone uses their common sense then they could realise that they are bound to feel rather poorly after any vaccine, considering the nature of the action.

I do not regret agreeing to these vaccines, I would so much rather put up with a couple of days of feeling poorly than the possibility of getting cervical cancer in the future. I strongly advise anyone who is offered the chance to get the vaccine to recieve it rather than take the risk with cervial cancer.

School girl said on 21 January 2010

I'm a fifteen year old girl and today i had my second HPV injection. To all those that are passing this up is rediculous. The bad side affects are really rare. All i get is a slight headache and soreness around the injected area fo 24 hours. I would much rather deal with that then actually get cervical cancer. Your daughters are at the age where they can make up their own mind about things and this is definately one of them! I highly recommend! The injection doesn't even hurt. So i think your putting your daughter more at risk from it by not letting her have it because she may not be old enough for screening but doesn't mean she won't get it at her age.

AuntyEm14 said on 12 December 2009

I had my first vaccination yesterday and I have so many side effects. Aching muscles, tiredness and headaches. Then in the next section nausea, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and a fever. I have even add dizziness in the next section. I realise I will probably get these each time but because of what it does I guess I will have to let it slide.

lidia95 said on 23 November 2009

im 14 and ha jab today i have go a very swollen arm around where the jab is . is this normal. and i felt very faint but school wouldnt send me home. :@

itshayleyx said on 17 November 2009

I Am 14 years old I Got my HPV vaccination on the 16th November and i only got some of the common side effects like tiredness, sore head and it is sore around the area i got injected. i still have a pain in my arm the day after but it isint as bad. i think if you have the chance to get it, get it.

Luthey said on 23 October 2009

I am 19 and earlier this year was offered the HPV vaccine as part of the catch up scheme which is currently taking place.

As I am a student nurse I looked into the theoretical research regarding, as well as the clinical trials, which have taken place for this vaccine.

Considering all the information given to me, combined with my reading, I decided to have the Cervarix Vaccine. I suffered no side effects except for a slight aching in my arm after each injection was given.

I am very grateful that I was offered the vaccine and feel that although, because I am older, there is a chance it will not give me maximum protection, I am still up to 70% less likely to suffer from this cancer.

Personally, when I weighed the risk of cervical cancer against the risk of side effects, the latter seemed incomparable. I respect and understand that it is easier for me to make this decision for myself; I cannot expect to understand how it feels to make it for your children. However, the research and the information is out there.

I made the educated decision to have the vaccine and hope that this along with regular screening when the time comes will help protect me from cervical cancer.

Lucy

Caspar said on 02 October 2009

Dear JAMSRM,

Please have a look at our HPV vaccine Q&A page which may help put your fears to rest.

http://www.nhs.uk/news/2009/09September/Pages/Cervical-cancer-vaccine-QA.aspx

JAMSRM said on 01 October 2009

My daughter is due her first dose of HPV next week and I'm seriously considering withdrawing her from the programme. In fact, after reading these pages and the various comments I agree whole heartedly with Mr and Mrs G Martin that the full facts should be made transparent to parents and because they are not I will be cancelling my daughter's participation first thing tomorrow morning. I know that cervical cancer is a terrible disease but if you're screened regularly enough it can be caught at the very early stages and it is treatable. I am screened regularly and I'll make sure that my daughter is when she is old enough.

Linda 1963 said on 29 September 2009

How long would it take for the side affects to start after the injection is given ??

Laura1108 said on 25 August 2009

I have recently finished my course of the HPV vaccination. I was shocked to read the above side effects of which i was not advised of at the time.

However i was absoluteley fine, apart from sensitive soreness and mild swelling.

It is definatley worth putting up with a sore arm for the following 24 hours than being at risk and suffering the catastrophic effects of cervical cancer in the future

Laura, 18

jackieh said on 28 June 2009

I agree with garethm. I read a lot about reported side effects and expected to find some balanced information on which to make a judgement. However in the absence of any of these reportsbeing mentioned at all together with the fact s that my daughter has been generally unwell for some months and had a bad reaction to MMR when she was younger I have also declined the vaccine for my daughter.
Mrs J Hilton

Caspar said on 09 June 2009

The Department takes the safety of vaccines very seriously. As with any vaccine or medicine, the HPV vaccine Cervarix can cause side effects in some individuals and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is closely monitoring the safety of the vaccine. Such potential risks must be balanced against the benefits of Cervarix in protecting against cervical cancer.

Suspected side effects to vaccines are reported to the MHRA through the Yellow Card Scheme - http://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/ . It is essential to bear in mind a report received through the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme relates only to a suspicion, by the reporter, that a vaccine or drug may have caused the medical condition. These reports cannot be considered proof of a side effect. Therefore, reports may be true side-effects or they may have been caused by coincidental medical conditions resulting from underlying or undiagnosed illness and, as such, would have occurred even in the absence of vaccination.

In the case of Cervarix, the MHRA has proactively encouraged reporting of Yellow Cards by writing to all health professionals involved in the vaccine programme and via its website and Drug Safety Update bulletin. Because of this, and based on past experience with other major new immunisation programmes, the number of Yellow Card reports received to date is fully in line with what was expected at this stage in the programme and no serious new risks have been identified. The Commission on Human Medicines recently reviewed the adverse reactions reported in association with Cervarix and advised that the balance of risks and benefits remains positive.

Further information can be found on the MHRA website - http://www.mhra.gov.uk/HPVvaccine . The safety of Cervarix continues to remain under close and continual review by the MHRA.

garethm1962 said on 04 June 2009

RE: lack of warning over side effects following HPV Vaccinations

We are surprised that following recent horror stories on side effects on the 'new' HPV vaccine, there is still little warning of such possible side effects in the leaflets or website. Some 1,300 children have sufferered adverse reactions.

As you should be aware vaccines do not also distribute evenly throughout the body, and can cause severe reaction for a considerable time.

In order for parents to make an informed decision, all available un-biased information must be provided.

It is a concern that parents are NOT being given the full balanced facts.

Despite a certain amount of pressure we ourselves declined that our daughter have the series of inoculations.

We are surprised that local schools are continuing with this treatment until the drug is properly tested, and have written (and will continue to write) to our MP and local paper about this matter

We will be monitoring your website for additional information in order for parents to make their own judgement whether the risk to health is acceptable

yours faithfully

Mr & Mrs G. Martin

Safety concerns

Since September 2008, at least four million doses of the HPV vaccine have been administered. Most of the side effects that people have reported are the recognised side effects from the clinical trials and are listed here. These side effects were identified during the testing of the HPV vaccine.

The safety of the vaccine was considered as part of the licensing process. See Medicines information – Licensing for more information.

See HPV vaccination – Safety or the HPV vaccine Q&A for more information about the HPV vaccination.

Injection process side effects

Some people may experience side effects that are due to having an injection rather than the vaccine itself. These may include:

fainting
panic attacks – an overwhelming sense of fear and anxiety that is accompanied by physical symptoms, such as sweating