The European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced Monday that it is looking into the possible rare side effects of HPV vaccines.
These vaccines, which have been used by nearly 72 million people worldwide, are usually given to girls and boys around the age or 11 or 12 years old to reduce the risk of cervical cancer, UPI reported. Cervical cancer is the fourth most common cause of cancer death in women.
The current review does not "question that the benefits of HPV vaccines outweigh their risks," EMA said in a statement. Instead, it will focus on whether they are linked to two rare conditions: complex regional pain syndrome, a chronic pain condition affecting the limbs, and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, "a condition where the heart rate jumps abnormally after sitting or standing," The Associated Press reported.
According to UPI, there have been 10 reported cases of complex regional pain syndrome, and 11 cases of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.
"More than eight million doses of HPV vaccine have been given in the UK, with close to 90 percent of eligible teenagers vaccinated," Dr. Sarah Branch, deputy director of vigilance and risk management of medicines at the United Kingdom's drug regulatory, told the BBC. "With this very high level of vaccine uptake, such reports are to be expected. But the vaccine isn't necessarily the cause and coincidental illness is a factor."
The review will consider any research that could help clarify the frequency of complex regional pain syndrome and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome following vaccination or identify any causal link.
The three types of HPV Vaccines approved in Europe are Gardasil, Gardasil 9 and Cervarix.
