Women and girls who receive the Gardasil vaccine to prevent the sexually transmitted disease HPV may be at increased risk of a serious disorder of the nervous system in the first few weeks after getting their shots.
Researchers have found clear evidence of an increased incidence of Guillain-Barre syndrome in the first six weeks, especially the first two weeks, after vaccination.
Guillain-Barre syndrome is a nervous system disorder in which the body's immune system attacks part of the nervous system. This immune system malfunction is usually triggered by an infection, such as with flu virus, or other illness. Sometimes, however, surgery or vaccinations will trigger the syndrome.
The link between Guillain-Barre syndrome and vaccinations isn't clear, but a definite connection was first noticed during the 1976-1977 swine flu scare.