Gardasil is a vaccine (injection/shot) that helps protect against diseases caused by the human papillomavirus. This virus causes cervical cancer, abnormal and precancerous cervical lesions, abnormal and precancerous vaginal lesions, abnormal and precancerous vulvar lesions and genital warts.
The vaccine is recommended for girls and women ages 9 through 26 years of age. The vaccine is given as an injection. Your child will receive 3 doses of the vaccine. The first dose is a date you choose, the second dose is 2 months after the first dose and the third dose is 6 months after the first dose.
The vaccine is now available in the office. At the present time only a few insurance carriers are covering this vaccine. Check with your insurance carrier regarding coverage prior to scheduling a vaccine visit.
HPV Vaccine Safety ( Gardasil): AAP Update
(Posted on 07/11/08)
Rumors have begun to circulate about the safety of Gardasil® human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine based on a news story about adverse events being reported. Most adverse events following administration of a vaccine are mild and self limited and include pain and redness at the injection site. Syncope which can follow any vaccine administration or injection, including HPV vaccine, is common among adolescents. The majority of serious events which have been reported and which are being discussed have not been linked causally to HPV vaccine. Others, including the case of a 14-year-old child with progressive muscle weakness occurring approximately four months after her third dose of Gardasil, are under study.
HPV is a common infection; approximately 20 million people in the US are currently infected and each year about 11,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer caused by HPV and 3,600 die of complications of cervical cancer. HPV vaccine is safe and effective. Pre-licensure studies in over 11,000 women revealed no serious side effects. Based on the risk/benefit profile of HPV vaccine, the American Academy of Pediatrics continues to recommend routine HPV vaccination for 11-12 year old girls and catch up vaccination for 13-18 year old girls.
As with any vaccine, continuous monitoring for and review of adverse events that occur after HPV vaccine administration, with follow-up as necessary, will assure that our HPV vaccine program is as safe as possible. This monitoring includes physician and parent reports to the VAERS system. VAERS is an important part of the system which is in place to monitor the safety of licensed vaccines. Reports to VAERS identify events occurring after vaccines are given, but VAERS reports cannot determine whether an event was caused by the vaccine. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Food and Drug Administration are conducting an ongoing study of VAERS reports describing adverse events following Gardasil (http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/vaers/gardasil.htm).
Additional information for providers and parents about HPV, HPV vaccine and a summary of Gardasil reports to VAERS can be found at the following websites:
CDC: HPV Vaccination page:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/hpv/default.htm
CDC: HPV vaccine safety. Q and A’s for the public:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/hpv/hpv-vacsafe-effic.htm
CDC: HPV vaccine Q and A for public:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd-vac/hpv/vac-faqs.htm
Summary of Gardasil reports to VAERS:
http://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/vaers/gardasil.htm