New Zealand Herald

By David Eames
December 11, 2009

An investigation is under way into a possible connection between a controversial cervical cancer vaccine and the death of a girl.

Health Minister Tony Ryall’s office has confirmed that the Otago University-based Centre for Adverse Reaction Monitoring (CARM) had been asked to see if there is any link between the girl’s death and the Gardasil vaccination.

CARM director Michael Tatley yesterday told the Herald an investigation was under way, but details of the girl’s death were “really scant stuff”.

The matter was still before the coroner. The girl is believed to have died in the past couple of months.

Her death had come within six months of receiving the Gardasil vaccination, but it was not known if she had completed the course – generally three shots administered six weeks apart.

Mr Ryall’s office – in response to a question by Green MP Sue Kedgley – said that although the matter had been referred to CARM for investigation, there was no established connection between the girl’s death and the vaccine.

“At the present time, CARM have assigned the causality assessment as ‘unclassifiable’ due to lack of information.

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