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HPV Vaccine Information for Young
Women - Fact Sheet
(Source: http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact-hpv-vaccine-young-women.htm)
Two vaccines are available to prevent the
human papillomavirus (HPV) types that cause most cervical
cancers. These vaccines are Cervarix (GlaxoSmithKline) and
Gardasil (Merck). One of the HPV vaccines, Gardasil, also
prevents genital warts as well as anal, vulvar and vaginal
cancers. Both vaccines are given in 3 shots over 6 months.
Why the HPV vaccine is important
Genital HPV is a common virus that is
passed from one person to another through direct
skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity. Most sexually
active people will get HPV at some time in their lives,
though most will never even know it. HPV infection is most
common in people in their late teens and early 20s. There
are about 40 types of HPV that can infect the genital areas
of men and women. Most HPV types cause no symptoms and go
away on their own. But some types can cause cervical cancer
in women and other less common cancers— like cancers of the
anus, penis, vagina, and vulva (area around the opening of
the vagina) and oropharynx (back of throat including base of
tongue and tonsils). Other types of HPV can cause warts in
the genital areas of men and women, called genital warts.
Genital warts are not a life-threatening disease. But they
can cause emotional stress and their treatment can be very
uncomfortable. Every year, about 12,000 women are diagnosed
with cervical cancer and 4,000 women die from this disease
in the U.S. About 1% of sexually active adults in the U.S.
have visible genital warts at any point in time.
Which girls/women should receive HPV
vaccination?
HPV vaccination is recommended with
either vaccine for 11 and 12 year-old girls. It is also
recommended for girls and women age 13 through 26 years of
age who have not yet been vaccinated or completed the
vaccine series; HPV vaccine can also be given to girls
beginning at age 9 years.
Will sexually active females benefit from
the vaccine?
Ideally females should get the vaccine
before they become sexually active and exposed to HPV.
Females who are sexually active may also benefit from the
vaccine, but they may get less benefit from it. This is
because they may have already gotten one or more of HPV
types targeted by the vaccines. However, few sexually active
young women are infected with all HPV types prevented by the
vaccines, so most young women could still get protection by
getting vaccinated.
Can pregnant women get the vaccine?
The vaccines are not recommended for
administration to pregnant women. Although studies show that
HPV vaccines do not cause problems for babies born to women
who received HPV vaccination when pregnant, more research is
still needed. A pregnant woman should not get any doses of
either HPV vaccine until her pregnancy is completed.
Getting the HPV vaccine when pregnant is
not a reason to consider ending a pregnancy. If a woman
realizes that she got one or more shots of an HPV vaccine
while pregnant, she should do two things:
· Wait until after her pregnancy
to finish the remaining HPV vaccine doses.
· Consult her doctor
Should girls and women be screened for
cervical cancer before getting vaccinated?
Girls and women do not need to get an HPV
test or Pap test to find out if they should get the vaccine.
However it is important that women continue to be screened
for cervical cancer, even after getting all 3 shots of
either HPV vaccine.
Effectiveness of the HPV Vaccines
The vaccines target the HPV types that
most commonly cause cervical cancer. One of the vaccines
also protects against the HPV types that cause most genital
warts. Both vaccines are highly effective in preventing
specific HPV types and the most common health problems from
HPV.
The vaccines are less effective in
preventing HPV-related disease in young women who have
already been exposed to one or more HPV types. That is
because the vaccines can only prevent HPV before a person it
is exposed to it. HPV vaccines do not treat existing HPV
infections or HPV-associated diseases.
How long does vaccine protection last?
Research suggests that vaccine protection
is long-lasting. Current studies (with up to about six years
of follow-up data) indicate that the vaccines are effective,
with no evidence of decreasing immunity.
What does the vaccine not protect
against?
The vaccines do not protect against all
HPV types— so they will not prevent all cases of cervical
cancer. About 30% of cervical cancers will not be prevented
by the vaccines, so it will be important for women to
continue getting screened for cervical cancer (regular Pap
tests). Also, the vaccines do not prevent other sexually
transmitted infections (STIs). So it will still be important
for sexually active persons to lower their risk for other
STIs.
Will girls and women be protected against
HPV and related diseases, even if they don’t get all 3
doses?
It is not yet known how much protection
girls and women get from receiving only one or two doses of
an HPV vaccine. So it is very important that girls and women
get all 3 doses.
Safety of the HPV vaccine
Both vaccines have been licensed by the
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for females aged 9
through 26 years and approved by CDC as safe and effective.
Both vaccines were studied in thousands of people around the
world and vaccine safety continues to be monitored by CDC
and the FDA. These studies showed no serious safety
concerns. Common, mild adverse events reported during these
studies include pain where the shot was given, fever,
dizziness, and nausea.
Fainting can occur after any medical
procedure, including vaccination. Recent data suggest that
fainting after any vaccination is more common in
adolescents. Falls and injuries can occur after fainting.
Adolescents and adults should be seated or lying down during
vaccination. Sitting or lying down for about 15 minutes
after a vaccination can help prevent fainting and injuries.
More than 35 million doses of HPV vaccine
have been distributed in the United States as of June, 2011.
Almost all doses distributed have been Gardasil.
Why is HPV vaccination only recommended
for women through age 26?
HPV vaccines are licensed and recommended
for females through age 26 years. Vaccination would have
the greatest benefit when administered to girls. As in
trials in younger women, a clinical trial of quadrivalent
vaccine in women >26 years found the vaccine to be safe.
This study also showed that the vaccine was effective in
women without evidence of existing or past infection with
HPV vaccine types. However, the study demonstrated no
protection against disease in the overall study population.
Neither vaccine is licensed in the United States for use in
women over the age of 26 years. Although women over age 26
years are not recommended to receive HPV vaccination, they
should have cervical cancer screening as currently
recommended.
What about vaccinating boys and men?
The quadrivalent vaccine is also safe and
effective for males ages 9 through 26 years. It is licensed
by the FDA for prevention of anal cancer and genital warts.
Since October 2009, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on
Immunization Practice’s guidance has been that the 3-dose
series of quadrivalent HPV vaccine may be given to males
aged 9 through 26 years to reduce their likelihood of
acquiring genital warts. The vaccine is not routinely
recommended for administration to males.
Cost and Paying for the HPV vaccine
As of July 18, 2011, the retail price of
the vaccine is about $130 per dose ($390 for full series).
Is HPV vaccine covered by insurance
plans?
Most health insurance plans cover the
cost of vaccines, but you may want to check with your
insurance provider before going to the doctor. If you don't
have insurance, or if it does not cover vaccines, the
Vaccines for Children (VFC) program may be able to help.
How can I get help paying for HPV
vaccine?
The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program
helps families of eligible children who might not otherwise
have access to vaccines. The program provides vaccines at no
cost to doctors who serve eligible children. Children
younger than 19 years of age are eligible for VFC vaccines
if they are Medicaid-eligible, American Indian, or Alaska
Native or have no health insurance. "Underinsured" children
who have health insurance that does not cover vaccination
can receive VFC vaccines through Federally Qualified Health
Centers or Rural Health Centers. Parents of uninsured or
underinsured children who receive vaccines at no cost
through the VFC Program should check with their healthcare
providers about possible administration fees that might
apply. These fees help providers cover the costs that result
from important services like storing the vaccines and paying
staff members to give vaccines to patients. However, VFC
vaccines cannot be denied to an eligible child if a family
can’t afford the fee.
What vaccinated girls/women need to know:
will girls/women who have been vaccinated still need
cervical cancer screening?
Yes, vaccinated women will still need
regular cervical cancer screening (Pap tests) because the
vaccines protect against most but not all HPV types that
cause cervical cancer. Also, women who got the vaccine after
becoming sexually active may not get the full benefit of the
vaccine if they had already acquired HPV.
Other ways to prevent Cervical Cancer
Regular cervical cancer screening and
follow-up can prevent most cases of cervical cancer. The Pap
test can detect cell changes in the cervix before they turn
into cancer. Pap tests can also detect most, but not all,
cervical cancers at an early, treatable stage. Most women
diagnosed with cervical cancer in the U.S. have either never
had a Pap test, or have not had a Pap test in the last 5
years. There are HPV tests that can tell if a woman has HPV
on her cervix, but the HPV tests on the market should only
be used to help screen women at certain ages and to help
health care providers assess women with certain Pap test
findings for cervical cancer. These tests can be used with
the Pap test to help your doctor determine next steps in
cervical cancer screening.
Are there other ways to prevent HPV?
For those who are sexually active,
condoms may lower the chances of getting HPV, if used with
every sex act, from start to finish. Condoms may also lower
the risk of developing HPV-related diseases (genital warts
and cervical cancer). But HPV can infect areas that are not
covered by a condom—so condoms may not fully protect against
HPV.
People can also lower their chances of
getting HPV by being in a faithful relationship with one
partner; limiting their number of sex partners; and choosing
a partner who has had no or few prior sex partners. But even
people with only one lifetime sex partner can get HPV. And
it may not be possible to determine if a partner who has
been sexually active in the past is currently infected.
That's why the only sure way to prevent HPV is to avoid all
sexual activity. |
