What is human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine?
Human papillomavirus (HPV) can cause genital warts, cancer of the cervix, and various cancers
of the vulva or vagina.
HPV vaccine is used to
prevent
genital warts and cervical/vaginal cancers
caused by certain types of HPV (types 6, 11, 16, and 18) in girls and young women.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends HPV vaccine for all girls
ages 11 or 12 years old. The vaccine is also recommended in girls and women ages 13 through 26
years old who have not already received the vaccine or have not completed all booster shots.
You may receive this vaccine even if you have already had genital warts, or had a positive
HPV test or abnormal pap smear in the past. However, this vaccine will not
treat
active genital warts or HPV-related cancers, and it
will not cure
HPV infection.
HPV vaccine may also be used for other purposes not listed in this medication guide.
What should I discuss with my healthcare provider before taking human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine?
Before receiving HPV vaccine, tell your doctor if you have:
-
high fever, or signs of infection;
-
a weak immune system;
-
a bleeding or blood-clotting disorder, such as hemophilia;
or
-
if you are taking a blood thinner such as warfarin
(Coumadin).
FDA pregnancy category B. This medication is not expected to be
harmful to an unborn baby. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant during
treatment.
It is not known whether HPV vaccine passes into breast milk or if it could harm a nursing
baby. Do not receive this vaccine without telling your doctor if you are breast-feeding a baby.
HPV vaccine will not protect against sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia,
gonorrhea, herpes, HIV, syphilis, and trichomoniasis.
HPV vaccine will not prevent diseases caused by HPV types other than types 6, 11, 16, and
18. There are over 100 different types of HPV.
How should I take human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine?
HPV vaccine is given as an injection (shot) into a muscle in your upper arm or thigh. You will
receive this injection in a doctor's office or other clinic setting.
HPV vaccine is given in a series of 3 shots. You may have the first shot at any time as long as
you are between the ages of 9 and 26 years old. Then you will need to receive a second dose 2
months after your first shot, and a third dose 6 months after your first shot.
Be sure to receive all doses of this vaccine recommended by your healthcare provider or by the
health department of the state you live in. If you do not receive the full series of vaccines, you may not
be fully protected against the disease.
HPV vaccine should not be used in place of having a routine pelvic exam and Pap smear to
screen for cervical cancer.
What happens if I miss a dose of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine?
Contact your doctor if you will miss an HPV vaccine booster dose or if you get behind
schedule. The next dose should be given as soon as possible. There is no need to start over.
Be sure you receive all recommended doses of this vaccine. If you do not receive the full series
of vaccines, you may not be fully protected against the disease.
Where can I get more information about human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine?
Your pharmacist has information about human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine written for health professionals that you may read.
What are the possible side effects of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine?
Becoming infected with HPV is much more dangerous to your health than receiving the vaccine
to protect against it. However, like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects but the risk of
serious side effects is extremely low.
Get emergency medical help if you have any of these
signs of an allergic
reaction:
hives; difficulty breathing; swelling of your face, lips, tongue, or throat.
You may feel faint after receiving this vaccine, especially within the first 15 minutes after
injection.
Other side effects may include:
-
pain, swelling, redness, or itching where the shot was given;
-
mild fever;
-
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, upset stomach;
-
dizziness, tired feeling;
-
runny or stuffy nose, sore throat, cough; or
-
joint or muscle pain.
This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Tell your
doctor about any unusual or bothersome side effect. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.
What is the most important information I should know about human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine?
Before receiving HPV vaccine, tell your doctor if you have a high fever or signs of infection, a
weak immune system, a bleeding disorder such as hemophilia, or if you are taking a blood thinner such
as warfarin (Coumadin).
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends HPV vaccine for all girls
ages 11 or 12 years old. The vaccine is also recommended in girls and women ages 13 through 26
years old who have not already received the vaccine or have not completed all booster shots.
HPV vaccine should not be used in place of having a routine pelvic exam and Pap smear to
screen for cervical cancer.
You may receive this vaccine even if you have already had genital warts, or had a positive
HPV test or abnormal pap smear in the past. However, this vaccine will not
treat
active genital warts or HPV-related cancers, and it
will not cure
HPV infection.
You may feel faint after receiving this vaccine, especially within the first 15 minutes after
injection.
Becoming infected with HPV is much more dangerous to your health than receiving the vaccine
to protect against it. However, like any medicine, this vaccine can cause side effects but the risk of
serious side effects is extremely low.
HPV vaccine will not protect against sexually transmitted diseases such as chlamydia,
gonorrhea, herpes, HIV, syphilis, and trichomoniasis.
What should I avoid while taking human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine?
There may be certain other vaccines that should not be given at the same time as the HPV
vaccine. Until you have completed the series of 3 HPV vaccines, do not receive any other vaccine
(including a flu shot) without first asking your doctor.
What other drugs will affect human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine?
Before receiving the HPV vaccine, tell the doctor about all other vaccines you have recently
received.
Also tell the doctor if you have recently received drugs or treatments that can weaken the
immune system, including:
-
an oral, nasal, inhaled, or injectable steroid medicine;
-
medications to treat psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, or
other autoimmune disorders, such as azathioprine (Imuran), efalizumab (Raptiva), etanercept
(Enbrel), leflunomide (Arava), and others; or
-
medicines to treat or prevent organ transplant rejection,
such as basiliximab (Simulect), cyclosporine (Sandimmune, Neoral, Gengraf), muromonab-CD3
(Orthoclone), mycophenolate mofetil (CellCept), sirolimus (Rapamune), or tacrolimus (Prograf).
This list is not complete and there may be other drugs that can interact with
this vaccine. Tell your doctor about all the prescription and over-the-counter medications you have
received. This includes vitamins, minerals, herbal products, and drugs prescribed by other doctors. Do
not start using a new medication without telling your doctor.
What happens if I have an overdose of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine?
