A Long-Term Observation on the Possible Adverse Effects in Japanese Adolescent Girls after Human Papillomavirus Vaccination

Abstract

In Japan, a significant number of adolescent females noted unusual symptoms after receiving the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, of which the vast majority of them were initially diagnosed with psychiatric illnesses because of the absence of pathologic radiological images and specific abnormalities in laboratory test results. Later these symptoms were thought to be adverse effects of HPV vaccination. However, a causal link between HPV vaccination and the development of these symptoms has not been demonstrated. Between June 2013 and March 2021, we examined 200 patients who noted various symptoms after HPV vaccination. In total, 87 were diagnosed with HPV vaccination-related symptoms based on our proposed diagnostic criteria. The clinical histories of these 87 patients were analyzed. The age at initial vaccination ranged from 11 to 19 years old (mean ± SD: 13.5 ± 1.5 years old), and the age at the first appearance of symptoms ranged from 12 to 20 years old (mean ± SD: 14.3 ± 1.6 years old). The patients received an initial HPV vaccine injection between May 2010 and May 2013, but the first affected patient developed symptoms in October 2010, and the last affected developed symptoms in October 2015. A cluster of patients with a post-HPV vaccination disorder has not appeared in Japan during the last five years. Our study shows that, in Japan, the period of HPV vaccination considerably overlapped with that of a unique post-HPV vaccination disorder development. This disorder appears as a combination of orthostatic intolerance, chronic regional pain syndrome, and cognitive dysfunction, but its exact pathogenesis remains unclear.

Effect of Different Educational Interventions on Knowledge of HPV Vaccination and Cervical Cancer among Young Women: A Preliminary Report

“…However, in June 2013, the Japanese government stopped recommending temporary prophylactic vaccination after symptoms, including chronic pain and motor dysfunction, after HPV vaccination were reported in young women and brought to light by the Japanese media [19,20]. The reason for this might have been that some HPV vaccine recipients suffered from symptoms that could not be ruled out as being related to the vaccination; moreover, there were reports suggesting a causal relationship between the HPV vaccine and severe symptoms such as postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) and chronic regional pain syndrome (CRPS) [21]. However, subsequent investigations have failed to provide any scientific or epidemiological evidence of a causal relationship between the various symptoms reported after vaccination, such as pain and motor dysfunction, and the vaccination [22].…”

Chronic Fatigue and Dysautonomia following COVID-19 Vaccination Is Distinguished from Normal Vaccination Response by Altered Blood Markers

“…In summary, PACVS presents a phenotype of acquired autonomous dysfunction that overlaps with various established multisystemic dysautonomia syndromes such as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) [6,7], postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) [8], fibromyalgia/chronic pain syndrome [9], small fiber neuropathy (SFN) [10] and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) [11]. Interestingly, symptoms similarly conforming to ME/CFS and POTS have been observed following vaccinations against human papillomavirus [12][13][14][15][16] and hepatitis B virus [17].…”

Chronic Fatigue and Dis-Autonomy following COVID-19 Vaccination is Distinguished from Normal Vaccination Response by Altered Blood Markers

“…In summary, PACVS presents a phenotype of acquired autonomous dysfunction, which overlaps with various established multisystemic dis-autonomy syndromes such as myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) [6,7], postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS) [8], fibromyalgia/chronic pain syndrome [9], small fiber neuropathy (SFN) [10] and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) [11]. Interestingly, symptoms similarly conforming to ME/CFS and POTS have been observed following vaccinations against human papilloma virus [12][13][14][15][16] and hepatitis B virus [17].…”