Dispute over Whether or Not the Health Injury after Implementation of Human Papillomavirus Vaccination

From a Standpoint of Stigma

Abstract

The adverse event (or health injury) after implementation of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination emerged as a social problem in 2013. It is in dispute as ‘Drug-Induced Suffering (YAKUGAI )’ to this day. The aim of this paper is to examine how the HPV vaccine-related adverse event has been in contestation in terms of stigma. The term stigma is a relational concept. An attribute is regarded as creditable by someone. But the same thing is characterized as discreditable by others. By the same token, each person's characteristic is built by one's relationship with one's own self. Its adverse event experienced by the recipients of HPV vaccination was regarded as feigned illness at first. And then, it was described as health injury due to vaccine adverse effect by HPV Vaccine Associated Neuropathic Syndrome (HANS). Their relationships with others have made up the recipients' characteristics. The recipients who have gotten involved the adverse event applied for health injury compensation benefit of the Relief Service for Adverse Drug Reactions (RSADR). But because they fell way short of the requirements for payments, they were rejected the demand for compensation. Therefore, they have sought redress from the court. They have had a key role as ‘victim‘. A successful lawsuit is to acquire official recognition not as feigned illness but health injury. Both the institutional constraints of RSADR and the stigma of feigned illness have set off a dispute about the HPV vaccine-related adverse event.