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Why is the HPV Vaccine Important? Most sexually active people will get HPV at some point, making vaccination essential.

What is HPV? HPV (human papillomavirus) is a common sexually transmitted infection spread through skin-to-skin contact. There are about 40 types of HPV that can be spread through sex, with 80% of sexually active people likely to get it. While many people’s immune systems can fight off HPV, some infections don’t go away and can lead to cancers, such as cervical, genital, and throat cancers, as well as genital warts.

How Does the HPV Vaccine Help? The HPV vaccine protects against HPV infections that can cause cancer or genital warts. It is preventive, meaning it protects against strains of HPV you haven’t yet encountered.

Who Should Get the HPV Vaccine?

For Girls:

  • Ages 9-26: Cervarix™ (HPV4) and Gardasil™ (HPV-2) are licensed, safe, and effective for girls in this age group.
  • Recommended Vaccination Age: IAP ACVIP recommends that all girls aged 11 or 12 receive 2 doses of either HPV vaccine to protect against cervical cancer.
  • Additional Protection with Gardasil: Gardasil also protects against most genital warts and some cancers of the vulva, vagina, and anus.
  • Older Girls and Young Women (Ages 14+): If not fully vaccinated, they should get 3 doses of the HPV vaccine.

For Boys:

  • Gardasil for Boys: Gardasil™ can be given in a 3-dose series for boys aged 11 or 12 years, though it is not yet licensed for use in males in India. The series can start as early as age 9.

General Recommendations:

  • Sexual Activity and Vaccination: Even if someone has had sexual contact before completing the 2/3 dose series, they can still benefit from the vaccine if they were not infected with the HPV types included in the vaccine. However, completing the full series before starting sexual activity offers the best protection.

What Does the Vaccine Protect Against?

  • Gardasil-9: The latest and most comprehensive HPV vaccine in the U.S. It protects against the most common high-risk HPV strains (HPV-16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, 58) and low-risk strains that cause genital warts (HPV-6, 11).
  • Older Vaccines: Gardasil (2006) protects against HPV-16, 18, 6, 11, and Cervarix (2009) protects against HPV-16 and 18.

Vaccine Schedule:

  • Ages 9-15: Two shots, six to twelve months apart.
  • Ages 15 and up: Three shots over six months.

Benefits and Side Effects:

  • Benefits: Reduces the risk of HPV-related cancers and genital warts.
  • Side Effects: Mild side effects like soreness at the injection site, headache, tiredness, muscle/joint pain, dizziness, fever, and nausea.

Consult Your Healthcare Provider: Talk to your healthcare provider about your sexual history to see if the HPV vaccine is right for you and discuss any concerns or questions you might have.

Other Important Information:

  • Even if you’ve been vaccinated, you still need regular Pap tests to screen for cervical cancer.
  • If you’ve had an older version of the HPV vaccine, additional doses of Gardasil-9 may not be necessary, but consult your healthcare provider for personalized advice
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