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Human Papillomavirus Vaccine

The human papillomavirus vaccine is a vaccine that protects against certain types of human papillomavirus infections. Cervical cancer, genital warts, and various precancerous genital lesions are some of the conditions that may be prevented by this vaccine. The HPV vaccine has been approved for use in girls and women age 9 to 26. Some of the more common side effects of the vaccine include nausea, dizziness, and reactions at the injection site.

 

What Is the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine?

Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (Types 6, 11, 16, and 18) Recombinant Vaccine (Gardasil®) is a vaccine that has been licensed to prevent cervical cancer, genital warts, and various precancerous genital lesions caused by certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV for short).
 
The human papillomavirus vaccine is approved for use in girls and women age 9 to 26.
 
(Click What Is the HPV Vaccine Used For? for more information on what the human papillomavirus vaccine is used for, including possible off-label uses.)
 

Who Makes the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine?

The human papillomavirus vaccine is manufactured by Merck & Co., Inc.
 

How Does the Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Work?

The human papillomavirus vaccine is a vaccine that protects against certain types of human papillomavirus infections. It works by stimulating the immune system to produce antibodies to fight off the human papillomavirus virus. Human papillomavirus is a virus that can be sexually transmitted. This virus can cause female genital warts, male genital warts, cervical cancer, and various precancerous genital growths.
 
There are many different types of human papillomavirus, and the human papillomavirus vaccine does not protect against all of them. However, the vaccine does protect against a few important human papillomavirus types (types 6, 11, 16, and 18). These four types of human papillomavirus were chosen because they cause about 70 percent of cervical cancers and 90 percent of genital warts.
 
(Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;