Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Mother convinced vaccine killed her daughter

Updated at 6:49 pm on 8 August 2012

The mother of an Upper Hutt teenager has told an inquest she blames the Gardasil vaccine for her daughter's death.

The vaccine protects against human papillomavirus, or HPV, which has been linked to cervical cancer.

Eighteen year old Jasmin Renata was found dead in her bed in September 2009, a year after she was first vaccinated.

Her mother Rhonda Renata says her daughter became short tempered and emotional after she was given Gardasil, and warts appeared on her hands.

A nurse has told the hearing the teenager did not complain of side affects at any of the three appointments when she got the injections.

A cardiologist has also given evidence saying Ms Renata could have had genetic heart problems.

However, Ms Renata refuses to be tested for genetic heart problems

saying she does not think it will reveal anything.

The Renata family has on two occasions refused genetic cardiac testing to rule out any hidden heart conditions.

Investigations by the medical safety regulator, Medsafe, show the batch of Gardasil used on Miss Renata did not have any problems.

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