How Gardasil 9 Is Given
You should get Gardasil 9 according to your doctor or healthcare professionals instructions.
The Gardasil 9 vaccine is given by your doctor or pharmacist as either a two-shot or three-shot series.
Whether you get two or three shots depends on your age, the time between each vaccination, and your doctors recommendation. The vaccine is given as a shot that goes into your muscle, usually in your upper arm.
Who Should Get The Vaccine
Gardasil® and Gardasil®9
Gardasil® and Gardasil®9 are approved for use in females aged 9-45 and males aged 9-26.
These vaccines require 3 doses to be given over the course of 6 months . For healthy, immunocompetent, non-HIV infected individuals 9 to less than 15 years age, two doses of the vaccine at least 6 months apart may be given.
- Recommendations for use, which come from the National Advisory Committee on Immunization , were initially released in February 2007, and updated in January 2012, 2015, 2016, and 2017 as new evidence emerged. NACI recommends Gardasil® and Gardasil®9 in females and males 9 to less than 27 years of age, including women who have had previous Pap test abnormalities, cervical cancer or individuals who have previously had genital warts. NACI also recommends that these vaccines may be administered to individuals 27 years of age and older at ongoing risk of exposure to HPV. HPV is a sexually transmitted infection, and ideally, the vaccine should be administered before sexual debut in order to ensure maximum benefit.
For more details on the NACI Statement, see “Update on Human Papillomavirus Vaccines”.
Cervarix®
Cervarix® is approved for use in females aged 9 to 45. At this time Cervarix® has not been approved for use in males in Canada.
The vaccine requires 3 doses to be given over the course of 6 months . For healthy, immunocompetent, non-HIV infected females 9 to less than 15 years age, two doses of the vaccine at least 6 months apart may be given.
Where Can I Get The Hpv Vaccine
The vaccine given will depend on the province or territory you live in all provinces and territories have publicly- funded, school-based HPV vaccination programs for girls 9 to 13 years of age . Most vaccination programs also include boys. To find out more, speak to your health care provider or your Public Health Unit.
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Is Gardasil 9 Safe
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Its approved for use in children and adults ages 9 to 45 years old.
Gardasil 9 is an inactive vaccine. This means it cant cause HPV to occur in people who get the vaccine.
The most common side effects that can occur from a Gardasil 9 vaccine include pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site, headache, and fever. These side effects are very similar to side effects you may experience from other inactive vaccines.
What Is Gardasil Vaccine And How Does It Work
Gardasil is a human papillomavirus vaccine. Gardasil is a sterile preparation for intramuscular injection and contains purified inactive proteins from HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18. The proteins in Gardasil are structural, virus-like proteins that resemble the HPV virus. The proteins can activate the immune system but cannot give rise to replicating virus. Viral proteins used in Gardasil are manufactured in yeast cells using recombinant technology. Once released from yeast cells, the VLPs are purified, combined with a catalyst and a purification buffer. Human papillomavirus causes cervical cancer, cervical adenocarcinoma, vaginal cancer, genital warts, and anal cancer. Gardasil works by stimulating the immune system to attack HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18. Once Gardasil is administered, the body’s immune system recognizes the viral proteins in Gardasil as foreign, and develops antibodies against them, thus providing immunity from future infections. In the event of HPV exposure following vaccination, the body will already be primed to fight the infection. HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18 are commonly associated with HPV infections. HPV 16 and 18 cause 70% of cervical cancer and HPV 6, 11, 16 and 18 cause approximately 90% of genital warts. The FDA approved Gardasil in June 2007.
What brand names are available for Gardasil Vaccine ?
Gardasil
Is Gardasil Vaccine available as a generic drug?
GENERIC AVAILABLE: No
Do I need a prescription for Gardasil Vaccine ?
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How Live Vaccines Differ
Live attenuated vaccines have been among the most successful preventive interventions in medical history. Due to global vaccination programs, smallpox was declared eradicated in 1980, while polio and measles have been declared eliminated in some parts of the world.
Live viral vaccines are just one type of vaccine. There are other types that do not involve live viruses or bacteria. These include:
- Inactivated vaccines: Also referred to as “killed” or “inactivated whole-cell” vaccines, these involve a dead virus or bacterium that the immune system still regards as harmful, triggering a pathogen-specific immune response. The annual flu shot is one such example of this, as are the rabies and hepatitis A vaccines.
- Toxoid vaccines:These vaccines do not produce immunity to the actual infection. Rather, they contain a chemically altered toxin made by the bacterium or virus that the immune system responds to, preventing the harmful effects of the infection. The tetanus vaccine is one such example of this type.
Does Hpv Cause Cancer
HPV can cause cervical and other cancers including cancer of the vulva, vagina, penis, or anus. It can also cause cancer in the back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils .
Cancer often takes years, even decades, to develop after a person gets HPV. The types of HPV that can cause genital warts are not the same as the types of HPV that can cause cancers.
There is no way to know which people who have HPV will develop cancer or other health problems. People with weak immune systems may be less able to fight off HPV. They may also be more likely to develop health problems from HPV.
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How Effective Is The Hpv Vaccine In Preventing Hpv
When doses are given at the recommended ages and at the appropriate intervals, it has been shown to prevent 90% of cancer-causing HPV. Research has also shown that fewer teens and young adults are getting genital warts. The number of cervical precancers are decreasing since HPV vaccines have been in use.
Hpv Vaccination For Men Who Have Sex With Men
Men who have sex with men have not benefited in the same way from the longstanding girls’ programme, so may be left unprotected against HPV.
Since April 2018, MSM up to and including 45 years of age have been eligible for free HPV vaccination on the NHS when they visit sexual health clinics and HIV clinics in England.
Ask the doctor or nurse at the clinic for more details.
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Protecting Against Hpv Through Immunization
Health Canada has authorized three vaccines to prevent infections from the most common types of HPV: Gardasil®, Gardasil®9 and Cervarix® . All three vaccines are safe and very effective in preventing HPV infection and changes in the cells of the cervix related to these types of HPV.
Studies have found HPV vaccines to be safe. Other than a brief soreness at the injection site, participants reported few side effects. The vaccines cannot cause disease because they contain no live biologicals or DNA and are thus not infectious. Also, the vaccines do not contain any preservative or antibiotics, including thimerosal or mercury. It is important to note that Cervarix® contains a special new adjuvant/additive which studies have also shown to be safe.
If you are infected with one type of HPV you can still benefit from the HPV vaccine. It can protect you against other strains of the virus. Unfortunately, even if you are vaccinated, you are still at risk for some types of HPV not covered by the vaccine. It is important that women who receive the vaccine still have regular Pap tests and practice safer sex.
None of the HPV vaccines have an impact on an existing infection or any consequences of infection that you may already have. Talk to your doctor for more information.
What Is Human Papillomavirus
Human papillomavirus is a virus that infects the skin, genital area and lining of the cervix. There are many different types of papillomaviruses . Some types of papillomaviruses cause warts on the skin, some types cause warts in the anal and genital areas, and some types cause cervical cancer.
Many different HPV types cause cervical cancer. Two types are the most common, accounting for about 7 of every 10 cases of cervical cancer. Similarly, many types of HPV cause anal and genital warts but only two types account for about 9 of every 10 cases.
The HPV vaccine, known as GARDASIL®, protects against nine types of HPV that cause disease in people. The types in the vaccine are 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58.
Other viruses can cause cancer, too. For example, hepatitis B virus can cause liver cancer, AIDS virus can cause sarcoma , and Epstein-Barr virus can cause cancers of the head and neck and of the immune system. These types of cancers can also be caused by other things. For example, alcohol can cause liver cancer, the sun can cause skin cancer, and poisons can cause cancer of the immune system.
Cervical cancer is unique in that it has only one cause: HPV.
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When Should You Be Vaccinated
The vaccines are given 2 or 3 times over a 6- to 12-month period. The timing of doses is important to make sure the vaccines are as effective as possible. If all doses of the vaccine are not given, or they are not given at the right time, you may not get the full benefit of the vaccine.
The vaccines are most effective if theyre given before a person becomes sexually active because their risk of infection will be lower. The vaccines are also more effective in young teens when the immune system is most responsive to the vaccine.
Fact : The Hpv Vaccine Does Not Contain Harmful Ingredients
The ingredients in the HPV vaccine, like all vaccines, help make sure that it is effective and safe. These ingredients occur naturally in the environment, the human body, and foods. For example, the HPV vaccine contains aluminum like the hepatitis B and Tdap vaccines. Aluminum boosts the bodys immune response to the vaccine. People are exposed to aluminum every day through food, cooking utensils, water, and even breast milk. Aluminum-containing vaccines have been used for decades and have been given safely to more than 3 billion people.
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Gardasil 9 For Preventing Cervical Vulvar Vaginal Anal And Head And Neck Cancers Caused By Hpv
Gardasil 9 is FDA-approved to prevent several types of cancers that can be caused by the human papillomavirus . HPV is spread by vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has the virus. Even if a person doesnt show any symptoms, they may still be infected with HPV.
According to the , HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection.
There are more than 100 types of HPV that can cause problems such as genital warts or cancer. Gardasil 9 protects against nine types. The vaccine contains proteins that are similar to each of these nine types of HPV.
The types of HPV that cause cancer are different from the types of HPV that cause genital warts. Gardasil 9 protects against HPV-related anal cancer and head and neck cancers in males and females.* It also protects against the following types of HPV-related cancer in females:
- cervical cancer
- vulvar cancer
- vaginal cancer
These cancers can be caused by HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58. After getting the vaccine, youd be protected from all of these types.
* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. Use of the terms male and female in this article refers to sex assigned at birth.
Effectiveness
The effectiveness of Gardasil 9 vaccine was tested in females* ages 16 through 26 years old. In this study, 6,016 females received Gardasil 9 and 6,017 females received Gardasil. In the Gardasil 9 group, the vaccine was 96.7% effective at preventing abnormal changes or cancer in the cervix, vulva, or vagina.
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.
The CDC recommends Gardasil 9 vaccination for most females through age 26 years old and for most males through age 21 years old.*
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 people up to 45 years of age. It is not approved in adults older than 45 years of age.
You can find more details about the CDCs vaccine recommendations for adults on their website.
* Sex and gender exist on spectrums. Use of the terms male and female in this article refers to sex assigned at birth.
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Does Hpv Cause Health Problems
In most cases, HPV goes away on its own and does not cause any health problems. But when HPV does not go away, it can cause health problems like genital warts and cancer.
Genital warts usually appear as a small bump or group of bumps in the genital area. They can be small or large, raised or flat, or shaped like a cauliflower. A healthcare provider can usually diagnose warts by looking at the genital area.
How Effective Are Hpv Vaccines
Clinical trials have shown that HPV vaccines are highly effective in preventing cervical infection with the types of HPV they target when given before first exposure to the virusthat is, before individuals begin to engage in sexual activity. HPV vaccines have also been found to reduce infections in other tissues that HPV infects, including the anus and oral region .
Because the cell changes and cancers caused by HPV take years to develop, it has only recently been confirmed that the vaccines reduce the risk of these outcomes as well. Trials and real-world data from population-based studies have now demonstrated that the vaccines greatly reduce the risk of precancers and cancers of the cervix, vagina, and vulva in vaccinated women . A clinical trial of Gardasil in men indicated that it can prevent anal cell changes caused by persistent infection . The trials that led to approval of Gardasil 9 found it to be nearly 100% effective in preventing cervical, vulvar, and vaginal infections and precancers caused by all seven cancer-causing HPV types that it targets .
To date, protection against infections with the targeted HPV types has been found to last for at least 10 years with Gardasil , up to 11 years with Cervarix , and at least 6 years with Gardasil 9 . Long-term studies of vaccine efficacy that are still in progress will help scientists better understand how long protection lasts .
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More Common Side Effects
The more common side effects of Gardasil 9 can include:
- pain, swelling, or redness at the injection site
- bruising, bleeding, itching, or a lump at the injection site
- headache
- sore throat
- abdominal pain
Most of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If theyre more severe or dont go away, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
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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