July 8, 2008 Is Gardasil safe for women? Play video

(Ally Donnelly, NECN) - Is the cervical cancer vaccine, Gardasil, safe? The government is now investigating reports of problems. The centers for disease control says it's received more than 7,000 complaints about dangerous side effects. But a number of doctors say -- with more than 3,000 American women dying from cervical cancer each year...the risks are worth the rewards.

12-year-old Dovey Foote recently got her second round of the Gardasil vaccine.

Her mom Jane says Dovey wasn't thrilled to get a shot, but there was no question the Newton pre-teen would roll up her sleeve. Gardasil is a vaccine which protects against certain types of the human papilloma virus --- the leading cause of cervical cancer.

It was approved for women and girls by the food and drug administration two years ago -- recommended to be *routinely given to 11 & 12 year olds.

The controversial vaccine is coming under new fire as the centers for disease control releases the number of complaints launched against it. Since it was approved, nearly 8,000 adverse events have been reported -- complaints ranging from pain at the injection site, fever and nausea to blood clots, paralyisis -- even death....though the cdc says none of the 10 confirmed deaths could be linked to the vaccine. the family of a 13-year-old in California says their daughter is nearly completely paralyzed and are questioning whether Gardasil could have triggered a degenerative muscle disease

In the scheme

of things a vaccine that has a potential adverse event of 1 in 1500 most of those being minor side effects....data would still support that women should consider vaccination pretty strongly.

Gardasil's manufacturer -- Merck -- stands behind its product. and the cdc says though it will monitor reports, it still considers the vaccine safe.

NECN's Ally Donnelly reports.