Local Woman Says Gardasil Killed Her Grandaughter

"I just didn't know what to think because she was so healthy. I just could not understand why she was dead. No one seemed to know why she was dead."

Jessie's family says she never had health problems. Autopsy records show her cause of death as undetermined.

The family to this day says it still has no answer on what killed Jessie. "No, except Gardasil," says Melton.

Jessie is one of millions of girls who have taken a vaccine called Gardasil, a product of pharmaceutical giant Merck.

The vaccine is a series of three shots. It helps protect girls from the human papillomavirus or HPV, which can cause cervical cancer.

Jessie's first shot was in July 2007. Her second shot was two months later, in September 2007.

"After the second shot, she started to get quite a few bad headaches usually in the back of her head. She started getting muscle aches, joint pain," says Melton.

The headaches and joint pain were getting so frequent, Jessie's mom took her to the doctor. "The doctor thought it was stress. In fact, that's what he attributed it to and they just didn't think anymore about it."

Melton says Jessie's final shot for the HPV vaccine was in February 2008. "She had her third vaccine on February 20th and February 22nd she passed away."

Melton says the day after that final shot, Jessie complained of another headache and went to bed.

The next day, Jessie's mom found her on the bathroom floor. Jessie, one month away from her 18th birthday, was dead. "Without a shadow of a doubt, I know that Gardasil is what killed her," says Melton.

She says it was right after the funeral they started searching the internet to learn more about Gardasil.

She says what they found were thousands of girls who complained of similar symptoms. There were also reports of death.

"I was angry at our government. I was angry with CDC, and FDA, why did they put this vaccine on the market when it was killing and giving our girls such adverse reactions," says Melton.

As of June 1, 2009, the CDC reports more than 25 million doses of Gardasil have been distributed. Of that 15 million, more than 14,000 recipients have reported adverse reactions. The complaints range from dizziness, numbness, to blood clots and death.

"It's interesting because we find so many people just do fine," says Dr. Jeff Jacqmein, of Jacksonville. Jacqmein says it is puzzling why the vaccine has adversely affected some and not others.

He has read dozens of documents concerning the side effects of Gardasil. He's heard of cases like Jessie's.

In fact, the CDC says it has either investigated or is currently looking at 43 reports of deaths of those who received the vaccine.

While he hasn't vaccinated his own daughter, Jacqmein says that day may come. "I think it's a great vaccine. I do like it. I do recommend it with the idea though we have a discussion. I don't think it's smart to say, 'give everybody the vaccine.' I think it's important to have the parents, the patients involvement in that decision."

Jessie's grandmother is now taking it upon herself to share Jessie's story.

She says she wants parents to know about possible side effects that may not be listed on the vaccine's warning label.

Melton has written the governor and even Congress about Jessie's death. "I want the public to know there are other side effects to Gardasil."

Melton carries Jessie's message with her everywhere she goes, even on her car. She has posted stickers saying Gardasil kills.

Melton's license plate reads, "One Less." It's in reference to Merck's commercials about Gardasil. "We are one less in our family because of Gardasil. There are other girls, their families are one less also because of Gardasil."