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Human Papillomavirus Vaccine (Cont.)

Effects of the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine

The human papillomavirus vaccine has been studied in over 20,000 women who were 16 to 26 years old. In these studies, the human papillomavirus vaccine was very effective in preventing genital warts and various precancerous growths. The human papillomavirus vaccine was more than 98 percent effective in preventing genital warts caused by human papillomavirus types 6, 11, 16, and 18. The human papillomavirus vaccine was more than 95 percent effective in preventing precancerous cervical growths caused by human papillomavirus 6, 11, 16, and 18.
 
The effectiveness of the human papillomavirus vaccine for preventing precancerous growths was studied instead of actual cervical cancer. This is because it is easier to study precancerous growths, as they develop more quickly.
 
There is no evidence that the vaccine will protect against human papillomavirus types other than human papillomavirus 6, 11, 16, and 18. Also, it is unknown whether the effects of the human papillomavirus vaccine will "wear off" over time.
 
The human papillomavirus vaccine was also studied in girls who were 9 to 15 years old. In these studies, these younger girls produced antibodies to human papillomavirus in a similar way that the women age 16 to 26 years old had done. This means that the vaccine can be expected to be just as effective in younger girls as it is in women.
 

When and How to Take the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine

Some general considerations for when and how to take the human papillomavirus vaccine include:
 
  • The human papillomavirus vaccine is an injection that your healthcare provider gives you.
     
  • The human papillomavirus vaccine is given as a series of three injections:
o First injection: at any time
o Second injection: two months after the first injection
o Third injection: six months after the first injection.
  • The human papillomavirus vaccine is injected into a muscle in the upper arm or upper thigh.
     
  • For the human papillomavirus vaccine to work properly, you have to get all three injections. The human papillomavirus vaccine will not work as well if you do not get all three injections.
     
(Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Continued: Page 3)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;