FAQs

Who should get the HPV vaccine?

The vaccine is approved for females between the ages of 9 and 26 and for males between the ages of 9 and 21. It is recommended that the best time for someone to get the vaccine is between the ages of 11 and 12. Teens who did not get the vaccine when they were younger can still get the vaccine. Young women can get the HPV vaccine through the age of 26, and young men can get vaccinated through the age of 21. Men who have sex with men and men who have compromised immune systems (including HIV) can get the vaccine up to age 26.

Why is the vaccine recommended at such a young age?

Like any other vaccine, for the HPV vaccine to be effective, it should be given prior to any chance go exposure to HPV. Preteens should receive all three doses of the HPV vaccine series long before they begin any type of sexual activity that could expose them to HPV. In addition, body’s immune response to the HPV vaccine works particularly well at those ages.

Is the vaccine still effective if you have had sexual intercourse?

If someone has already had sex, they should still get the HPV vaccine. Even sexually active people are likely to get protection from the vaccine.

Should boys get the HPV vaccine too?

Yes. The HPV vaccine helps prevent boys from getting infected with the strains of HPV that can cause cancers of the throat, penis and anus. The vaccine also prevents genital warts. When boys are vaccinated, they cannot spread HPV to their future partners. There has been an alarming increase in HPV-related throat cancers in younger men in recent decades and it is predicted that these types of cancers will likely surpass rates of cervical cancer by the year 2020. Click here to learn more.

How well does the HPV vaccine work?

The HPV vaccine works extremely well. Clinical trials showed the vaccines provided close to 100% protection against the strains of HPV that cause pre-cancers and genital warts. Click here to learn more about HPV vaccine efficacy. A recent study shows that between 2008 and 2012, there was a large decline in high-grade cervical lesions among women ages 18 to 20, in part due to the vaccine.

How long will the HPV vaccine last?

Protection provided by the HPV vaccine should be long-lasting. There is no evidence to suggest that the HPV vaccine loses the ability to provide protection over time.

Will the vaccine require a booster?

Currently in the US, the vaccine is administered in a series of three injections given over six months. At this time, there are no booster doses recommended. Like all vaccines, the HPV vaccine is continually monitored to make sure that it remains effective. If protection from the HPV vaccine doesn’t last as long as it should, then the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practice would review the data and determine if a booster should be recommended.

Does someone have to restart the HPV vaccine series if too much time passes between the shots?

It is recommended that all three shots of the HPV vaccine series be given over a six month period; the second shot should be given one to two months after the first, and the third dose should be given six months after the first dose. However, if someone waits longer than that between shots they do not need to restart the series. Even if it has been months or years since the last shot, the series can and should be completed at any age.

How do we know that the HPV vaccine is safe?

All vaccines used in the United States are required to go through years of extensive safety testing before they are licensed by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Once in use, they are continually monitored for their safety and effectiveness. All three HPV vaccines are monitored for any adverse events. The CDC uses three systems to monitor and evaluate the safety of vaccines after they are licensed. There have been no serious safety concerns confirmed in any of these studies.

What are the side effects of the HPV vaccine and how often do these side effects occur?

Several mild to moderate problems are known to occur with this HPV vaccine. These do not last long and go away on their own. These include:

Reactions in the arm where the shot was given:
• Pain (about 8 people in 10)
• Redness or swelling (about 1 person in 4)

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)
• Brief fainting spells and related symptoms (such as jerking movements) can happen after any medical procedure, including vaccination. Recent data suggest that fainting after any vaccination is more common in adolescents. Sitting or lying down for about 15 minutes after a vaccination can help prevent fainting and injuries caused by falls. Tell your doctor if the patient feels dizzy or light-headed, or has vision changes or ringing in the ears. Life-threatening allergic reactions from vaccines are very rare. If they do occur, it would be within a few minutes to a few hours after the vaccination.

What is in the vaccine? Will it cause cancer?

The HPV vaccine contains inactivated (killed) extracts from different strains of the human papillomavirus. It cannot cause a person to get HPV or HPV-related cancer. See the following resources from the FDA and CDC for more information: http://www.fda.gov/BiologicsBloodVaccines/Vaccines/QuestionsaboutVaccines/ucm096052.htm http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/pubs/pinkbook/downloads/appendices/B/excipient-table-2.pdf  

Will the vaccine cause fertility issues?

There is no data to suggest that getting the HPV vaccine will have an effect on future fertility. In fact, getting vaccinated and protecting against cervical cancer can protect a woman’s ability to get pregnant. This is because some treatments for cervical cancer can cause infertility or lead to a hysterectomy. It is also possible that treatment for cervical pre-cancer cells can weaken the cervix and can cause pre-term delivery or other problems.

Do women who have been vaccinated against HPV still need Pap tests?

Yes. Females who get vaccinated will still need to be tested regularly for cervical cancer because the vaccines do not protect against all of the strains of HPV that can cause cervical cancer. If a female, gets the vaccine, she will still need to have Pap tests at the recommended times.

Is it safe? Are there any side effects?

The vaccine has been proven to be safe and effective. Side effects reported have been minimal, including:

• Fainting (syncope)
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• Headache
• Redness or irritation at the site of the injection
• Pain at the injection site
• For more information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/Vaccines/HPV/Index.html

Are there different types of vaccine?

There are two types of vaccines used to prevent HPV infection: Cervarix and Gardasil. FDA for use in girls and boys as young as 9 years old. Cervarix:

• Protects against two strains of HPV (16 and 18) known to be linked to cervical cancer.
• Proven effective for use in females.
• Approved for use in females from ages 9-26

• Protects against four strains of HPV (6, 11, 16, and 18) known to be linked to 70% of cervical and anal cancer, and 90% of genital warts. This vaccine can also protect against HPV-related throat, penile, vaginal, and vulvar cancer.
• Proven effective for use in females and males.
• Approved for use in females from ages 9-26, males from ages 9-21, and males with compromised immune systems or males who have sex with other males up to age 26.

• Protects against nine strains of HPV (16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58) known to be linked to 90% of cervical and anal cancer, and 90% of genital warts. This vaccine can also protect against HPV-related throat, penile, vaginal, and vulvar cancer.
• Proven effective for use in females and males.
• Approved for use in females from ages 9-26, males from ages 9-21, and males with compromised immune systems or males who have sex with other males up to age 26.

How much does it cost?

Most major insurance carriers cover the full cost of the vaccine. Call your insurance carrier today for a detailed explanation of coverage. If you do not have private insurance, you or your child might have full coverage under the federally funded Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. If you are over 19 and do not have insurance, you may be able to receive vaccine payment assistance from the vaccine manufacturer: http://www.gardasil.com/how-to-get-gardasil/assistance-programs/ http://www.gskforyou.com/patient-assistance-programs/drugslist.html

What is GARDASIL 9?

Gardasil 9 is a new vaccine approved by the FDA in December 2014. It includes protection against five more HPV types than GARDASIL (which contains four HPV types, two of which cause about 70% of cervical cancer). The five new HPV types covered by the GARDASIL 9 vaccine cause about 20 percent of cervical cancers.

Can I get GARDASIL 9?

The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (which develops recommendations on vaccinations which stand as public health advice and serve to inform physicians as to what to recommend and payers as to what they will cover) does not meet again until February 2015, so we will not know until then if GARDISIL 9 will be added to the schedule of recommended vaccines; and until then or later to see how insurers will handle. Speak with your healthcare professional to discuss if getting three doses of GARDISIL 9 is right for you or your child.