Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine

Uses

HPV vaccine prevents infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) types that are associated with a cause many cancers, including the following:

  • cervical cancer in females
  • vaginal and vulvar cancers in females
  • anal cancer in females and males
  • throat cancer in females and males
  • penile cancer in males

In addition, HPV vaccine prevents infection with HPV types that cause genital warts in both females and males.

In the United States, about 12,000 women get cervical cancer every year, and about 4,000 women die from it. HPV vaccine can prevent most of these cases of cervical cancer.

Vaccination is not a substitute for cervical cancer screening. This vaccine does not protect against all HPV types that can cause cervical cancer. Women should still get regular Pap tests.

HPV infection usually comes from sexual contact, and most people will become infected at some point in their life. About 14 million Americans, including teens, get infected every year. Most infections will go away on their own and not cause serious problems. But thousands of women and men get cancer and other diseases from HPV.

Side Effects Of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine

With any medicine, including vaccines, there is a chance of side effects. These are usually mild and go away on their own, but serious reactions are also possible. Most people who get HPV vaccine do not have any serious problems with it.

Mild or moderate problems following HPV vaccine:

  • Reactions in the arm where the shot was given: Soreness (about 9 people in 10); redness or swelling (about 1 person in 3)
  • Fever: mild (100°F) (about 1 person in 10); moderate (102°F) (about 1 person in 65)
  • Other problems: headache (about 1 person in 3)
  • Problems that could happen after any injected vaccine:
  • People sometimes faint after a medical procedure, including vaccination. Sitting or lying down for about 15 minutes can help prevent fainting and injuries caused by a fall. Tell your doctor if you feel dizzy, or have vision changes or ringing in the ears.
  • Some people get severe pain in the shoulder and have difficulty moving the arm where a shot was given. This happens very rarely.
  • Any medication can cause a severe allergic reaction. Such reactions from a vaccine are very rare, estimated at about 1 in a million doses, and would happen within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination

Warnings & Precautions

Anyone who has had a severe (life-threatening) allergic reaction to a dose of HPV vaccine should not get another dose.

Anyone who has a severe (life-threatening) allergy to any component of HPV vaccine should not get the vaccine. Tell your doctor if you have any severe allergies that you know of, including a severe allergy to yeast.

If you have a mild illness, such as a cold, you can probably get the vaccine today. If you are moderately or severely ill, you should probably wait until you recover. Your doctor can advise you.

Dosage Of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine

HPV vaccine is approved by the FDA and is recommended by the CDC for both males and females. It is routinely given at 11 or 12 years of age, but it may be given beginning at age 9 years through age 26 years.

Most adolescents 9 through 14 years of age should get HPV vaccine as a two-dose series with the doses separated by 6 to 12 months. People who start HPV vaccination at 15 years of age and older should get the vaccine as a three-dose series with the second dose given 1 to 2 months after the first dose and the third dose given 6 months after the first dose. There are several exceptions to these age recommendations. Your healthcare provider can give you more information.

Other

Ask your healthcare provider. He or she can give you the vaccine package insert or suggest other sources of information.

Call your local or state health department.

Source

All information has been provided courtesy of MedLinePlus from the National Library of Medicine and from the FDA.