Gardasil: To vaccinate or not to vaccinate for HPV Published Sept. 10, 2010 By Senior Airman Amanda Thompson 14th Medical Group Immunizations Clinic COLUMBUS AFB, Miss. -- The 14th Medical Group Immunization Clinic continues to offer the Gardasil Vaccine (also known as the HPV vaccine or cervical cancer vaccine). The 14th MDG staff is always available and willing to answer questions patients may have about the vaccine to help patients decide when and if Gardasil is right for their child. Gardasil was FDA approved for use in girls and women in 2006 to prevent genital warts, cervical cancer and other genital cancers caused by Human Papilloma Virus (HPV). HPV is a large group viruses, of which several are known to cause genital, head and neck cancers. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection today and it is estimated that at least 50 percent of sexually active people will be infected with it sometime in their lives. In up to 90 percent of these infections, the body will clear itself of the virus before cancer can develop. However, in the United States, 12,000 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer annually, and almost 4,000 women die from it. In boys and men, HPV can cause genital warts and genital, head and neck cancers. Recently Gardasil was approved for use in boys and men also. Prior to FDA approval, clinical trials with Gardasil were conducted with 29,000 male and female participants. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the FDA have found Gardasil to be safe and effective based on these trials and, although all vaccines carry some risk to certain individuals, found that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the potential risks. The most commonly observed side effects have been fainting (common with all immunizations in adolescents); local injection site reactions such as redness, tenderness, swelling, and itching; and headache. Severe reactions are rare. Because of the risk for side effects, we require everyone to remain in the immunization waiting area for 15 minutes after they receive the vaccine. Gardasil is approved for use in individuals 9 to 26 years old. This raises questions for some parents about the appropriateness of a vaccine to prevent a sexually transmitted infection in young boys and girls. The intent is to have them vaccinated, and thus protected, before they are likely to be exposed to HPV. Vaccination remains appropriate, however, for men and women in this age group who are already sexually active. Gardasil contains protection against four specific HPV strains; the two which are responsible for 70 percent of cervical cancers and the two most likely to cause genital warts. Gardasil is given as a series of three injections; the second and third are given at two and six months after the first. Gardasil is available during walk-in hours: 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; except Thursdays after noon (when clinic training occurs) and the first and third Fridays after 3:15 p.m. (Smallpox vaccinations only). Please sign in at our new kiosk for assistance. We can be reached by phone at 434-2187. Below are websites you may find useful for more information on HPV, Gardasil and cervical cancer screening. http://www.cdc.gov/std/hpv/stdfact-hpv.htm http://www.gardasil.com/ http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/726386