Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine
The Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, available in two brands—Cervarix and Gardasil—has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for preventing various HPV-related diseases, primarily cervical cancer. Administered best before exposure to HPV, the vaccine also helps in preventing genital warts, particularly with Gardasil, which is effective for both genders. HPV is a common virus with over forty types that can infect genital areas, and while most cases are symptomless, some can lead to serious cancers, including cervical and other genital cancers. Research indicates that the HPV vaccine can significantly reduce the risk of certain cancers related to HPV by 54%.
The vaccine is recommended for preteens aged eleven to twelve but can be given as early as nine years old and up to twenty-six for those who missed earlier vaccinations. It is administered in a three-dose series, with specific time intervals between doses, ensuring optimal effectiveness. While generally safe, mild to moderate side effects may occur. Despite its benefits, the vaccine faced initial controversy, with discussions ongoing about mandatory vaccination policies. Current vaccination rates show progress, but the Department of Health and Human Services aims for an 80% vaccination rate by 2030.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine
Definition
Two brands of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, Cervarix and Gardasil, have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Both brands can prevent most cases of cervical cancer if the vaccine is given before exposure to HPV. Gardasil can also prevent genital warts in both females and males.
More than forty types of HPV can infect the genital areas of both males and females. Most HPV types cause no symptoms and resolve on their own. Some types of HPV, however, cause cervical cancer and other, less common, genital cancers (of the penis, anus, vagina, and vulva). In 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that 37,800 men and women were diagnosed with a cancer caused by HPV infection. The results of a study released in 2024 indicate that the HPV vaccine significantly reduced some types of cancer in men. Researchers compared the rates of HPV-linked cancers in those who had the HPV vaccine to those who had not had it. These cancers included head and neck, anal, penile, and cervical cancers. They determined that receiving the vaccination reduced the risk of HPV-related cancers by 54 percent. Because the HPV vaccine does not prevent all kinds of cervical cancer, females who receive the HPV vaccine still need to have regular Pap tests.
Candidates for Vaccination
The HPV vaccine should be given before beginning sexual activity with another person. The vaccine is most effective in persons who have not been exposed to HPV.
The vaccine is recommended for children aged eleven and twelve. However, the vaccines can be administered to children as young as nine years of age. Also, people through the age of twenty-six years can receive the vaccine if they did not receive any or all of the shots when they were younger.
Dosage
The HPV vaccine is given as a three-dose series. Each dose is 0.5 milliliters, administered intramuscularly, preferably in a deltoid muscle. It is best to use the same vaccine brand for all three doses. The minimum time between dose one and dose two of the vaccine is four weeks; between dose two and dose three is twelve weeks. The minimum time between dose one and dose three is twenty-four weeks. Doses that were received after a shorter-than-recommended time interval should be given again.
Risks
Generally, the HPV vaccine is very safe, but mild to moderate reactions have been reported. Reactions include pain, redness, itching, bruising, or swelling at the injection site; mild to moderate fever; headache; nausea; vomiting; dizziness; and fainting. Persons who are allergic to the ingredients of the vaccines, including yeast, should not receive the vaccine, nor should pregnant persons.
Impact
The HPV vaccine is the first preventive cancer vaccine. Initially, the vaccine was controversial because some parents and religious groups claimed it would make casual sex more acceptable, especially among girls, although studies by both Merck (the manufacturer of Gardasil) and independent researchers show no link between receiving the vaccine and increased sexual activity. Lawmakers are debating whether to make this vaccine mandatory; as of December 2015, it was mandatory only in Rhode Island, Virginia, and Washington, DC, and many teenagers were still not receiving it. According to the CDC, in 2022, nearly 60 percent of adolescents ages thirteen to fifteen had received two or three doses of the HPV vaccine as recommended, and 38.6 percent of children ages nine to seventeen had received at least one dose of the vaccine. The Department of Health and Human Services has set a goal of reaching an 80 percent vaccination rate by 2030.
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