Why Adults Should Get The Hpv Vaccine
HPV infection is extremely common most sexually active people will be infected with HPV at some point in life. HPV infection usually causes no symptoms, but can cause genital warts and anal cancer in both women and men. HPV can also cause throat cancer.
In women, HPV infection can cause cells in the cervix to grow abnormally. In a small fraction of women, these HPV-induced changes will develop into cervical cancer. About 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year and about 4,000 women die from the condition.
The HPV vaccine prevents infection by the HPV types responsible for most cervical cancers. Up until 2017, there were two vaccines available . Today, Gardasil 9 is the only available HPV vaccine in the U.S.
Gardasil 9 prevents infection by the same HPV types as Gardasil, plus HPV-31, HPV-33, HPV-45, HPV-52, and HPV-58. Collectively, these types are implicated in 90% of cervical cancers. In October 2018, the FDA approved Gardasil9 for everyone ages 9 through 45
HPV vaccines are extremely effective at preventing infection by the HPV types they cover. Getting the HPV vaccine reduces a womanâs risk of cervical cancer and precancerous growths substantially. Men cannot develop cervical cancer, but the HPV vaccine may prevent genital warts, penile cancer, anal cancer, and the spread of HPV to sexual partners. Gardasil 9 is approved for males ages 9 through 26.
How Can I Prevent Hpv
Vaccines are available that can protect against the most common types of HPV that cause cancer. The Canadian Cancer Society recommends that Canadians get vaccinated to reduce their risk of HPV-related cancer.
Get vaccinated or have your children vaccinated through school-based programs where available. If you are not eligible for a free vaccination, talk to your doctor about which vaccine is right for you and when you should have it.
If you are sexually active, use a condom and other barriers safely to help protect against HPV.
Condoms or other barriers such as an oral dam can reduce HPV infection if put on before skin-to-skin sexual contact. However, areas not covered by these barriers still allow some skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity. Using these barriers will reduce but not eliminate the risk of HPV infection.
The Hpv Vaccine Is Now Fda
This story has been updated to include more information about the study cited by the FDA.
For years, health officials have urged people under the age of 26 to get the vaccine that protects against human papilloma virus . If you happened to miss that deadline or were older than 26 when the vaccine came out, it wasnt recommended for you. But now, adults over 26 may want to consider getting it if they haven’t already.
The Food and Drug Administration recently approved expanding the use of one form of the HPV vaccine, Gardasil 9, to include people between the ages of 27 and 45. Gardasil 9 helps prevent certain cancers and diseases caused by the nine HPV types that are covered by the vaccine.
The approval represents an important opportunity to help prevent HPV-related diseases and cancers in a broader age range, Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDAs Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in a statement. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has stated that HPV vaccination prior to becoming infected with the HPV types covered by the vaccine has the potential to prevent more than 90 percent of these cancers, or 31,200 cases every year, from ever developing.
The FDA deemed Gardasil 9 safe for men in the same age group based on that data, as well as data from Gardasil used in younger men and data from a clinical trial of 150 men between the ages of 27 and 45 who received the HPV vaccine.
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Gardasil 9 And Other Medications Or Treatments
Below is a list of medications and treatments that can interact with Gardasil 9. This list does not contain all medications or treatments that could interact with Gardasil 9.
Before taking Gardasil 9, talk with your doctor and pharmacist. Tell them about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take. Also tell them about any immune-suppressing treatments youre having, and any vitamins, herbs, and supplements you use. Sharing this information can help you avoid potential interactions.
If you have questions about interactions that may affect you, ask your doctor or pharmacist.
Gardasil 9 and immune-suppressing medications or treatments
Getting the Gardasil 9 vaccine while youre taking medications or having treatments that weaken your immune system may make the vaccine not work as well. This is because Gardasil 9 works by stimulating your immune system. That way, if you come into contact with human papillomavirus , your body can fight it off.
If youre taking medications or having treatments that weaken your immune system when you get Gardasil 9, you wont build as much immunity toward HPV. This means the vaccine may not be as effective.
Examples of immune-suppressing medications or treatments include those used to treat cancer, such as:
- radiation therapy
- azathioprine
- etoposide
Corticosteroids, when used in very high doses, are also immune suppressing medications. Examples of corticosteroids include prednisone and methylprednisolone .
Dosage For Preventing Precancerous Or Abnormal Lesions Caused By Hpv
The HPV virus can cause changes to your cervix, vulva, vagina, or anus. Changes are often referred to as dysplasia .
The Gardasil 9 vaccine can help prevent some of these abnormal growths. The approved dosage for adults ages 18 to 45 years old is a 0.5-mL injection into the muscle, usually in your upper arm.
Its recommended that you receive three doses of Gardasil 9. After you receive one dose, you get a second dose 2 months later and a final dose 6 months after the first dose.
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Are There Different Types Of Hpv Vaccines
HPV is a group of more than 200 viruses. About 40 of these are spread through sexual contact. Of these 40, about 12 types can cause certain cancers. There are three safe and effective HPV vaccines available worldwide:
- Gardasil® 9: This is the only vaccine currently being used in the United States. Gardasil 9 protects against nine types of cancer-causing HPV, including high-risk strains. It can prevent up to 90% of cervical cancers.
- Cervarix® and Gardasil®: These two HPV vaccines are used in other countries and treat certain high-risk strains of HPV. They can prevent around 70% of cervical cancer.
Age Recommendations For Gardasil 9
The Gardasil 9 vaccine is FDA-approved for use in people ages 9 through 45 years old. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the Gardasil 9 vaccine for children ages 11 or 12 years old.
Previously, experts recommended Gardasil 9 vaccination for females through age 26 years old and for males through age 21 years old. Now, however, they recommend the vaccine for everyone up to age 26 years.
This age range is recommended so the vaccine can become effective before exposure to the human papillomavirus could occur through sexual contact. Also, younger children tend to build up an immunity to HPV better than adults, which can help prevent possible infection even more.
After age 21 for males or age 26 for females, the Gardasil 9 vaccine may still be recommended by your doctor, depending on if you have new sexual partners or are at a higher risk of getting HPV. Gardasil 9 is approved for men and women up to 45 years old. It is not approved in adults over 45 years old.
You can find more details about the CDCs vaccine recommendations for on their website.
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Who Should Not Get An Hpv Vaccine Or Who Should Wait
Pregnant women should not get any HPV vaccine at this time, even though they appear to be safe for both mother and the unborn baby. If a woman who is pregnant does get an HPV vaccine, its not a reason to consider ending the pregnancy. Women who started a vaccine series before they learned they were pregnant should complete the series after the pregnancy.
Make sure the health care provider knows about any severe allergies. The following should not get an HPV vaccine:
- Those with a severe allergy to yeast should not receive Gardasil or Gardasil 9.
- Anyone who has ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to anything else contained in the vaccines
- Anyone who has had a serious reaction to an earlier dose of HPV vaccine
Dosage For Preventing Cervical Vulvar Vaginal And Anal Cancer Caused By Hpv
Gardasil 9 is recommended to prevent certain cancers caused by HPV such as cervical, vulvar, vaginal, and anal cancers. The recommended dosage for adults ages 18 to 45 years old is a 0.5-mL injection into the muscle, usually in your upper arm.
Its recommended that you receive three doses of Gardasil 9. After you receive one dose, you get a second dose 2 months later and a final dose 6 months after the first dose.
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Gardasil 9 For Preventing Genital Warts Caused By Hpv
Gardasil 9 is approved to prevent genital warts caused by HPV.
Effectiveness
Gardasil has been shown to be effective in preventing genital warts caused by HPV. Clinical studies used the now-discontinued Gardasil to show the effectiveness of Gardasil 9. For information on the results of these studies, see Gardasil 9s prescribing information.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend HPV vaccination for all boys and girls ages 11 and 12 years to help prevent cancers caused by HPV.
Guidelines by the American Academy of Family Physicians recommend HPV vaccination for preventing genital warts caused by HPV.
How Long Has Hpv Immunisation Been Available In New Zealand
The HPV Immunisation Programme started in New Zealand in September 2008, for girls and young women up to their 20th birthday. Over 200,000 girls and young women have been fully immunised against HPV in New Zealand.
HPV vaccines were first approved by the United States FDA in 2006. Over 165 million doses have been distributed worldwide since then.
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Gardasil 9 For Preventing Precancerous Or Abnormal Lesions Caused By Hpv
Gardasil 9 is FDA-approved to prevent precancerous growths or abnormal lesions caused by HPV.
HPV can cause abnormal changes in your cervix, vulva, vagina, or anus. Some of these changes are called neoplasia, and they can lead to cancer in some people.
Effectiveness
Gardasil 9 has been found to be effective in preventing certain abnormal growths or changes caused by HPV. For information on how the drug performed in clinical studies, see Gardasil 9s prescribing information.
The recommends vaccinating children ages 9 through 12 years against HPV.
Dosage For Preventing Genital Warts Caused By Hpv
Gardasil 9 is effective at preventing genital warts that may be caused by HPV. By receiving the Gardasil 9 vaccine, some genital warts can be prevented. The dosage for adults ages 18 to 45 years old is a 0.5-mL injection into the muscle.
Its recommended that you receive three doses of Gardasil 9. After you receive one dose, you get a second dose 2 months later and a final dose 6 months after the first dose.
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If You Missed Having The Hpv Vaccine In School
If you were offered the HPV vaccine but missed having it in school, you can have it free up to age 25 in England, Scotland and Wales. This applies to:
- girls who were in year 8 , S1 , or year 9 in September 2008.
- boys who were in year 8 , S1 , or year 9 in September 2019.
If this does not apply to you, you will have to pay for the HPV vaccine. Your practice nurse or GP is the best person to speak with about having the vaccine.
How Long Will The Vaccine Prevent Hpv Infection
How long a vaccine will protect people is never known when the vaccine is first introduced. Current research shows that the vaccine is effective, and theres no sign that the protection decreases with time. Research will continue to look at how long protection against HPV lasts, and if booster shots will be needed.
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Why Is Hpv Vaccination Only Recommended For Women Through Age 26
HPV vaccination is not currently recommended for women over age 26 years. Clinical trials showed that, overall, HPV vaccination offered women limited or no protection against HPV-related diseases. For women over age 26 years, the best way to prevent cervical cancer is to get routine cervical cancer screening, as recommended.
How Safe Is The Hpv Vaccine
The HPV vaccine has been licensed by the Food and Drug Administration . The CDC has approved this vaccine as safe and effective. The vaccine was studied in thousands of people around the world, and these studies showed no serious safety concerns. Side effects reported in these studies were mild, including pain where the shot was given, fever, dizziness, and nausea. Vaccine safety continues to be monitored by CDC and the FDA. More than 60 million doses of HPV vaccine have been distributed in the United States as of March 2014.
Fainting, which can occur after any medical procedure, has also been noted after HPV vaccination. Fainting after any vaccination is more common in adolescents. Because fainting can cause falls and injuries, adolescents and adults should be seated or lying down during HPV vaccination. Sitting or lying down for about 15 minutes after a vaccination can help prevent fainting and injuries.
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Common Questions About The Hpv Vaccine Schedule
ACIP makes recommendations based on the best available scientific evidence. Immunogenicity studies have shown that 2 doses of HPV vaccine given at least 6 months apart to 914 year-olds provided as good or better antibody response than 3 doses given to older adolescents or young adults.
Answering parents questions: The data we have from current scientific studies show that 2 doses of HPV vaccine given at least 6 months apart were as good or better than 3 doses in children 914 years of age. The immune response for older people hasnt been studied in the same way, so we dont have information available for that age group. For that reason, older teens and adults still need three doses for best protection.
Yes. In a 2-dose schedule of HPV vaccine, the recommended interval is 612 months, and the minimum interval is 5 months between the first and second dose. If the second dose is given earlier than 5 months, a third dose should be given.
Answering parents questions: The recommended schedule is 2 doses given 6 to 12 months apart. The minimum amount of time between those doses is 5 months. Because your child received 2 doses less than 5 months apart, well need to give your child a third dose.
Answering parents questions: Even though CDC has recommended just 2 doses of HPV for kids under 15 years, well need to give your child 3 doses because he/she has a health condition that can weaken the immune system.
Answering patients questions:
Questions About How Hpv Vaccine Is Made And Works
Q. How long does it take for someone to be protected after getting the HPV vaccine?
A. It takes about two weeks after the first dose of vaccine for the immune system to generate an immune response. The additional doses make that response stronger, particularly the last one which fortifies the memory response.
Q. If I got the HPV vaccine, do I need to use protection?
A. It is important to understand that the HPV vaccine does not protect against other STDs, such as syphilis, chlamydia, gonorrhea, and herpes, nor does it protect against types of HPV to which one was already exposed. For these reasons, using protection is still prudent to consider.
I have had one dose of the HPV vaccine. Will I be protected if I become sexually active?
While you may have some protection after receiving the first dose of HPV vaccine, your best level of protection will occur after you receive all recommended doses.
I did not tell the doctor that I am sexually active before getting the HPV vaccine. Will it still work?
The HPV vaccine will not protect you against types of HPV to which you may have already been exposed however, it will protect you against types to which you were not previously exposed. Since the vaccine protects against nine types of HPV, it is likely that you can still benefit from receiving the vaccine. For this reason, knowing your sexual activity status is not a requirement for deciding whether or not you should get the HPV vaccine.
Will an HPV booster shot ever be required?
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Does Health Insurance Pay For The Hpv Vaccines
Insurance plans will probably cover the HPV vaccine cost if it is given according to national guidelines. But check with your insurance plan to be sure.
The vaccines are included in the federal Vaccines for Children program. This program covers vaccine costs for children and teens who dont have insurance. The VFC program provides free vaccines to children and teens younger than 19 years of age, who are either Medicaid-eligible, American Indian or Alaska Native, or uninsured.
The VFC program also allows children and teens to get VFC vaccines through federally qualified health centers or rural health centers. For more on the VFC program or to find the VFC contact where you live, visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/contacts-state.html, or call 1-800-232-4636.
Measles Mumps And Rubella Vaccination
Routine vaccination
- No evidence of immunity to measles, mumps, or rubella: 1 dose
- Evidence of immunity: Born before 1957 , documentation of receipt of MMR vaccine, laboratory evidence of immunity or disease
Special situations
- Pregnancy with no evidence of immunity to rubella: MMR contraindicated during pregnancy after pregnancy , 1 dose
- Nonpregnant women of childbearing age with no evidence of immunity to rubella: 1 dose
- HIV infection with CD4 count 200 cells/mm3 for at least 6 months and no evidence of immunity to measles, mumps, or rubella: 2-dose series at least 4 weeks apart MMR contraindicated for HIV infection with CD4 count < 200 cells/mm3
- Severe immunocompromising conditions: MMR contraindicated
- Students in postsecondary educational institutions, international travelers, and household or close, personal contacts of immunocompromised persons with no evidence of immunity to measles, mumps, or rubella: 2-dose series at least 4 weeks apart if previously did not receive any doses of MMR or 1 dose if previously received 1 dose MMR
- Health care personnel:
- Born in 1957 or later with no evidence of immunity to measles, mumps, or rubella: 2-dose series at least 4 weeks apart for measles or mumps or at least 1 dose for rubella
- Born before 1957 with no evidence of immunity to measles, mumps, or rubella: Consider 2-dose series at least 4 weeks apart for measles or mumps or 1 dose for rubella
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