The tragic death of a schoolboy in Loire-Atlantique, which occurred shortly after he was vaccinated against HPV, raises legitimate questions about the safety of HPV vaccines. Can you die from the HPV vaccine?
On October 27, 2023, a middle school student in Loire-Atlantique died shortly after receiving an award. HPV vaccine. A few minutes after receiving the injection, he felt unwell and then collapsed severely. He died a few days later from head trauma. Was the vaccine the cause of his death?
Investigation conducted by the Regional Health Agency of Pays de la Loire
The Pays de la Loire Regional Health Agency (ARS) conducted a three-week investigation. It does not detect any malfunctions. Everything seems to have gone normally: organizing the vaccination campaign, preparing the prevention center and the university hospital in Nantes, the distribution and provision of vaccines…
Although the investigation did not reveal any malfunctions, it was decided to take additional security measures:
- The role and tasks of each person involved in the vaccination campaign will be clarified;
- Measures to prevent post-vaccination stress such as medical monitoring for a longer period after the injection will be implemented.
What are the possible side effects of the HPV vaccine?
Side effects of vaccines against HPV infection include:
- Local reactions: pain at the injection site (more common than with other vaccines), redness and swelling at the injection site.
- General effects: fever, muscle or joint pain, discomfort is uncommon;
- Allergic reactions.
Regarding autoimmune diseases, initial concerns have been raised. Several studies, including one in France that included 2.2 million young girls, did not show an increase in the risk of autoimmune diseases associated with vaccination.
The benefits of vaccination in preventing HPV infection and related cancers far outweigh the risks of side effects.
Why should college students be vaccinated against HPV?
Vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) infection remains essential for college students for several reasons:
- Prevention of HPV infection in girls and boys: Since 2021, vaccination is recommended not only for young girls but also for young boys. In fact, men are equally involved as women in population transmission and are also affected by HPV infection;
- Optimal effectiveness before sexual activity: Vaccination is almost 100% effective in preventing infection with the HPV strains included in the vaccine when administered before sexual activity.
The vaccination is recommended for girls and boys aged 11 to 14 years, with two doses given six months apart. It can catch up up to age 19 with three necessary doses for those who were not vaccinated at age 14.
