HPV Vaccine Safety: CDC and FDA Information for Parents

Introduction

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine is very safe. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the HPV vaccine for all children at age 11 or 12. An HPV infection can cause cervical cancer in women and mouth, throat, penile, or anal cancer in both men and women. CDC as well as other federal agencies have confirmed that the HPV vaccine is very safe. Like all medicines, vaccines come with some risks. But serious side effects of the HPV vaccine are rare.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the HPV vaccine for all children at age 11 or 12.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends the HPV vaccine for all children at age 11 or 12. The vaccine is given in 3 doses over 6 months, and it is recommended at ages 11 or 12 because that’s when kids are most likely to be exposed to HPV. The CDC recommends that boys and girls receive two doses of the vaccine 4-8 weeks apart, followed by a third dose 6 months later.

The HPV vaccine protects against 9 types of high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV). These types cause most cases of cervical cancer, genital warts, anal cancer and other cancers affecting men and women.

An HPV infection can cause cervical cancer in women and mouth, throat, penile, or anal cancer in both men and women.

HPV is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by certain types of HPV.
HPV is the most common STI in the United States.
The types of HPV that can cause genital warts are not the same as the ones that cause cancer.

CDC as well as other federal agencies have confirmed that the HPV vaccine is very safe.

CDC as well as other federal agencies have confirmed that the HPV vaccine is very safe. The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends routine vaccination for all preteen girls and boys at age 11 or 12 years. ACIP also recommends vaccination for females through age 26, if not previously vaccinated; males with a medical condition called immunocompromising condition; and older male adolescents who did not receive vaccines when they were younger.

The vaccine protects against the most common types of cancer-causing human papillomavirus (HPV):

HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18 (the quadrivalent vaccine);
HPV types 6, 11, 16 (the bivalent vaccine); and
HPV types 6, 11, 18 (the 9-valent vaccine).

Like all medicines, vaccines come with some risks. But serious side effects of the HPV vaccine are rare.

HPV vaccination is safe and effective for both boys and girls

The CDC recommends HPV vaccination for both boys and girls ages 11 or 12 years old. That’s because it can protect them against cervical cancer, genital warts, anal cancer, throat cancer and other cancers caused by HPV later in life. The vaccine is given in three shots over six months to make sure your child gets the best protection possible against these diseases.

Before you make a decision about the HPV vaccine, it’s important to learn about its potential benefits and risks.

HPV vaccine is a safe and effective way to prevent HPV infections, which cause most cervical cancers in women and cancers of the mouth/throat, anus/rectum, penis, vagina/vulva, and penis.

HPV vaccine is recommended for all 11- or 12-year-old children. It can also be given to girls and boys as young as 9 years old who did not get any or all doses when they were younger. The vaccine works best if given at age 11 or 12 before a person starts having sex (and thus is exposed to HPV). Vaccination can still be given later in adolescence or adulthood if you are not yet sexually active; however there may be less protection against certain types of HPV when this occurs compared with vaccination before sexual activity begins.

Vaccine experts at CDC and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) work together to make sure vaccines are safe before they are used in adults and children.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is the federal agency that approves new drugs and medical devices for use in the United States. CDC works with FDA to check vaccine safety before vaccines are used in adults and children.

CDC does not have the authority to require vaccine manufacturers to do clinical trials of vaccines. The FDA does not have that authority, either.

For example, if a new vaccine against flu was being developed by a pharmaceutical company, CDC might suggest that it be tested on people over age 65 who have never had a flu shot before so we could learn more about how well it works on this group of people whose immune systems may differ from those of other populations studied in clinical trials for this particular vaccine.

A safety monitoring system is put in place to help assure that vaccines are as safe as possible after they’re approved and recommended for use in adults and children.

CDC and FDA work together to monitor the safety of vaccines. The CDC’s Immunization Safety Office (ISO) is responsible for monitoring all aspects of vaccine safety. The ISO monitors reports from health professionals, patients, parents, and others about any possible side effects after vaccination. If you or someone you know has questions or concerns about vaccine safety that are not addressed by your healthcare provider, talk to your child’s doctor or call 1-800-CDC-INFO (1-800-232-4636).

In addition to reviewing information from reports of adverse events after vaccination, scientists at ISO conduct research on potential side effects of vaccines in people who have received them. If a new vaccine is being considered for use in adults or children, it must be thoroughly tested before its introduction into the public health system so that any risks can be identified as early as possible.

Once a vaccine has been approved for general use in adults and children by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), CDC monitors its safety through several ways:

Following up on reports of adverse events made after vaccination;
Conducting research studies looking at how safe different types of vaccines are when given together with other substances;

The best time to get vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV) is before starting any kind of sexual activity involving genital contact. This means having vaginal, anal, or oral sex. It takes time for the immune system to build up protection after getting a vaccine so your child should be fully protected by the time he or she starts having sex.

There are many reasons that parents should be concerned about getting their children vaccinated against HPV. The virus is spread through skin-to-skin sexual contact, including vaginal and anal sex, so you may be wondering if the vaccine will protect your child from STIs. This is a great question!

HPV is not just an STI; it’s also a cancer-causing virus in many cases. It can cause cervical cancer as well as cancers of the vulva, vagina, cervix and anus in women or men respectively. It’s important to know that you don’t need to engage in risky sexual behavior (like having multiple partners at once) in order for your child to catch HPV — simply being exposed might be enough! That’s why getting vaccinated early on before starting any kind of sexual activity involving genital contact is vital.*

Getting immunized before having sex gives him or her more time before trying these things out with other people

Conclusion

The HPV vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and your family from cancer. It’s safe, effective and recommended by health experts around the world. If you have questions about whether or not you should get vaccinated, talk with your doctor or contact your local health department for more information about what’s right for your family.