CLAIM: Merck is on trial for fraud regarding its human papillomavirus vaccine, which has been banned in other countries and has been found to cause cancer.
AP’S ASSESSMENT: False. The New Jersey pharmaceutical giant faces a number of civil lawsuits regarding Gardasil but none of the cases have reached the trial stage, spokespersons for Merck and a law firm representing various plaintiffs claiming injuries from the vaccine confirm. They also confirm Gardasil has not been banned anywhere and federal health officials say the vaccine cannot cause cancer.
THE FACTS: Social media users are sharing a post warning of the purported dangers of vaccines to prevent cancer-causing HPV by pointing out that Merck faces legal action for its inoculation.
“California, if you don’t know already that HPV vaccine is one of the most injurious in the history of vaccines then you should,” reads the post, which uses ax emojis in place of the word “vaccine.” “Countries have banned it. Too many injured or worse. Merck is on trial for fraud because it not only does not prevent cancer it may ahem, do the opposite.
A post by one user, who shared a screenshot of the quote, has been liked more than 4,400 times as of Monday.
But while lawsuits have been filed against Merck in a number of states, most are in the early stages and aren’t heading to trial any time soon, spokespersons for both the company and plaintiffs confirmed.
The two sides also confirmed Gardasil has never been banned in any country,...
stage at the Ninth Circuit, where pharmaceutical companies say a momentous new ruling "illustrates perfectly" the constitutional concerns of U. S. Supreme Court justices regarding FCA enforcement. ...