Home > Women's Health > Health Information > HPV > HPV Vaccine FAQs

HPV Vaccine FAQs

Hall Health Primary Care Center (HHPCC) has the new HPV vaccine.  The following FAQ should answer most of your questions.  If you have additional questions you can contact your HHPCC provider.

What is the HPV vaccine?

The vaccine, Gardasil, is the first vaccine developed to prevent cervical cancer, precancerous genital lesions, and genital warts due to HPV.

Who should get the HPV vaccine?

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommended routine vaccination for girls 11-12 years of age. The ACIP recommendation also allows for vaccination of girls beginning at nine years old as well as vaccination of girls and women 13-26 years old. Recommendations of the ACIP become CDC policy once they are accepted by director of the CDC and the Secretary of HHS and are published in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

What are the possible side effects of the HPV vaccine?

As with all vaccines, there may be some side effects with the HPV vaccine.  This vaccine has been well tolerated in women and girls as young as 9 years of age. 

The most common side effects include

• Pain, swelling, itching, and redness at the injection site
• Fever

Difficulty breathing due to an allergic reaction can occur however is rare.

If you or your child vas any severe or unusual symptoms after receiving HPV vaccine, contact your health care provider immediately.

How and when is the vaccine delivered?

The vaccine is given in a series of three injections over a six-month period. The second and third doses should be given at two and six months (respectively) after the first dose. HPV vaccine may be given at the same time as other vaccines.

Is the HPV vaccine effective?

This vaccine is highly effective in preventing four types of HPV in young women who have not been previously exposed to HPV. This vaccine targets HPV types that cause up to 70% of all cervical cancers and about 90% of genital warts. The vaccine will not treat existing HPV infections or their complications.

Is the HPV vaccine safe?

The FDA has licensed the vaccine as safe and effective. This vaccine has been tested in thousands of females (9 to 26 years of age) around the world. These studies have shown no serious side effects. The most common side effect is brief soreness at the injection site. CDC, working with the FDA, will continue to monitor the safety of the vaccine after it is in general use.

Does the vaccine contain thimerosal or mercury?

No, there is no thimerosal or mercury in the vaccine.

What are the ingredients in the HPV vaccine?

The main ingredients are purified inactive proteins that come from HPV Types 6, 11, 16 and 18.  The vaccine also contains amorphous aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate, sodium chloride, L-histidine, polysorbate 80, sodium borate, and water for injection.

How long does vaccine protection last? Will a booster shot be needed?

The length of vaccine protection (immunity) is usually not known when a vaccine is first introduced. So far, studies have found that vaccinated persons are protected for five years. More research is being done to find out how long protection will last, and if a booster dose of vaccine will be needed.

What is HPV?

HPV (human papillomavirus) is a virus that is common in the United States and around the world and can cause cancer and genital warts. HPV is spread through sexual contact. There are about 100 types of HPV. HPV is the major cause cervical cancer in women and is also associated with several other types of cancer in both men and women.

How common is HPV?

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. At least 50 percent of sexually active people will get HPV at some time in their lives. Every year in the U.S., about 6.2 million people get HPV. HPV is most common in young women and men who are in their late teens and early 20s.

Is HPV the same thing as HIV or herpes?

No, HPV is not the same as HIV or herpes virus (herpes simplex virus or HSV). While these are all viruses that can be sexually transmitted— HIV and HSV do not cause the same symptoms or health problems as HPV.

Can HPV be treated?

There is no treatment for HPV. But there are treatments for the health problems that HPV can cause, such as genital warts, cervical cell changes, and cancers caused by HPV.

Will girls/women be protected against HPV and related diseases, even if they don’t get all three doses?

It is not yet known how much protection girls/women would get from receiving only one or two doses of the vaccine. For this reason, it is very important that girls/women get all three doses of the vaccine.

Does the vaccine protect against cervical cancer?

Yes, HPV vaccine is the first vaccine developed to prevent cervical cancer. This new vaccine is highly effective in preventing HPV infection, the major cause of cervical cancer in women. The vaccine protects against four types of HPV, including two that cause about 70% of cervical cancer.

How common is cervical cancer?

Cervical cancer is a major health problem in the United States. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2006, over 9,710 women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer and 3,700 will die from this disease.

Will the girls/women who have been vaccinated still need cervical cancer screening?

Yes, they will still need to see their healthcare provider for cervical cancer screening. There are three reasons why women will still need regular cervical cancer screening. First, the vaccine will NOT provide protection against all types of HPV that cause cervical cancer, so women will still be at risk for some cancers. Second, some women may not get all required doses of the vaccine (or they may not get them at the right times), so they may not get the vaccine’s full benefits. Third, women may also not get the vaccine’s full benefits if they have already acquired a vaccine HPV type.

Should the vaccine be given to women who already have HPV?

People will HPV may benefit from the HPV vaccine since they are not usually infected with all four strains of virus.  However the vaccine is not considered as a treatment for existing HPV disease.

Who should receive the HPV vaccine?

The HPV vaccine is for girls and women age 9 through 26 years.

Who should not receive the HPV vaccine?

Anyone who:

·         is allergic to any components of the vaccine

·         has an allergic reaction after getting a dose of the vaccine

What are other possible reasons that patients cannot receive this vaccine?

It is very important that patients let their provider know if they have had any of the following before receiving the HPV vaccine:

·         allergic reaction to the vaccine

·         bleeding disorder such that the patient cannot receive vaccines in the arm

·         weakened immune system

·         pregnant or planning pregnancy

·         current illness with a fever greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit

Why is the vaccine only recommended for girls/women ages 9-26?

The vaccine has been extensively tested in 9-26 year-old females so information is only available about vaccine safety and protection for girls/women of this age group. However, studies on the vaccine are now being done in boys/men, as well as in women older than 26 years of age. The FDA will consider licensing the vaccine for these other groups when there is research to show that it is safe and effective in these groups.

Why is HPV vaccine recommended for girls 11 to 12 years of age?

It is important for girls to get HPV vaccine before they become sexually active. The vaccine is most effective for girls/women who get vaccinated before their first sexual contact. It does not work as well for those who were exposed to the virus before getting the vaccine. However, most women will still benefit from getting the vaccine because they will be protected against other virus types contained in the vaccine.

Should pregnant women be vaccinated?

The vaccine is not recommended for pregnant women. There has only been limited information about vaccine safety among pregnant women and their unborn babies. So far, studies suggest that the vaccine has not caused health problems during pregnancy, nor has it caused health problems for the child. But more research is still needed. For now, pregnant women should wait to complete their pregnancy before getting the vaccine. If a women finds out she is pregnant after she has started getting the vaccine series, she should wait until after her pregnancy is completed to finish the three-dose series.

What about vaccinating males?

We do not yet know if the vaccine is effective in boys or men. Studies are now being done to find out if the vaccine works to prevent HPV infection and disease in males. When more information is available, this vaccine may be licensed and recommended for boys/men as well.

Will my child be required to get the vaccine before she enters school?

There are no federal laws requiring the immunization of children. All school and daycare entry laws are state laws and vary from state to state. Therefore, you should check with your state health department of Board of Education to find out what vaccines your child will need to enter school or daycare.

Each year the CDC publishes childhood and adolescent immunization schedules that provide recommended timelines for immunization of children and adolescents. The annual childhood and adolescent immunization schedules are a joint effort of the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). While these organizations have no regulatory authority over the immunization of children, the recommendations of the CDC, AAP, and AAFP are considered standards of medical practice and most physicians follow the recommendations.

What is the process for getting the vaccine at Hall Health Primary Care Center (HHPCC)?

For patients with an established provider at HHPCC, contact the provider’s medical assistant (MA) who can place an order for the vaccine with the provider’s agreement.  You may then come in to Immunization Clinic between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm Monday through Friday to receive the vaccine.  The clinic is a walk in clinic for this purpose.

For enrolled University of Washington, Seattle campus students without a provider at HHPCC, come in to the patient services center (PSC).  After taking insurance information, the patient service representative will schedule an appointment to see a triage nurse.  The triage nurse will consult with the on-call provider for that day who will sign the vaccine order.  The triage nurse will then direct the patient to the Immunization Clinic.

For patients who are not established HHPCC patients and who are not students at the UW Campus, please call the schedulers at HHPCC @ 206-616-2495 to schedule a brief provider visit who can order the vaccine.

How much will the HPV vaccine cost?

The current (as of March 11, 2009) price of the vaccine at Hall Health is $160.00 per vaccine plus a $35.00 injection fee for a total of $195.00 per dose.  For a 3 dose series, the price will be $585.00.  If you are required to see a provider, the first visit will cost more due to the provider visit.

Will the vaccine be covered by insurance plans?

Most insurance plans and managed care plans cover recommended vaccines. However, there may be a lag-time after a vaccine is recommended, before it is available and covered by health plans. While some insurance companies may cover the vaccine, others may not.  We suggest you contact your health insurance for more information.

The above information was obtained from the http://www.cdc.gov/ and the Patient Information sheet about Gardasil produced by the Merck vaccine division.