Merck Declares GARDASIL No Problem: But Litigation Exposes Serious Questions

Merck has issued a statement reaffirming its confidence in the safety and efficacy of its HPV vaccines, GARDASIL® and GARDASIL®9, as the company faces product liability lawsuits in the United States. The company strongly defends its vaccines, citing over 30 years of research, clinical trials, and real-world evidence supporting their benefits. Merck dismisses the lawsuits as meritless and states that it will "vigorously defend" against these claims in an upcoming trial that began jury selection on January 22 in California.

The statement does not acknowledge any problems with the vaccine or suggest that Merck sees validity in the plaintiffs' allegations. Instead, it maintains a firm position that GARDASIL’s safety record is well-documented by both Merck and independent investigators. The release also provides detailed information about the vaccine’s indications, safety guidelines, and limitations, including known side effects such as injection site pain, headaches, dizziness, and rare instances of syncope (fainting), sometimes associated with seizure-like movements.