 |
Gardasil
- the HPV Vaccine |
Dear Patients,
A vaccine
called Gardasil
is now recommended for all
girls and young women between
the ages of 9 and 26 years
old. Gardasil is designed
to protect against several
types of human papilloma
virus (HPV). Infection with
the human papilloma virus
can cause genital warts
and cervical cancer. HPV
is the most common of all
sexually transmitted viral
infections. Protecting against
the most aggressive types
of HPV will greatly reduce
the incidence of cervical
cancer which currently accounts
for almost 4,000 deaths
per year in this country.
If a woman is already sexually
active, she may be infected
with some types of HPV.
However, a woman is unlikely
to be infected with all
four types of HPV included
in the vaccine, thus the
vaccine still offers protective
benefits to sexually active
women. The vaccine will
not change the clinical
course of warts or cervical
lesions already present
at the time of vaccination.
In clinical
trials, the Gardasil vaccine
was highly effective in
preventing genital warts
and pre-cancerous genital
lesions. Five years after
vaccination, protection
against HPV was still strong
with no signs of waning
immunity.
The vaccine
is given in three doses
with the second and third
doses two and six months
after the initial dose.
It may be safely given on
the same day as other vaccines
such as tetanus or meningitis
vaccines. Reported side
effects include only brief
arm discomfort from the
injection and rare cases
of low grade fever. The
vaccine should not be given
to pregnant women, anyone
with a serious acute illness
or anyone with a severe
yeast allergy. If a dose
of Gardasil is given before
a woman realizes she is
preganant, she should delay
the subsequent doses until
after the pregnancy. No
harmful effects to fetuses
have been documented, however.
In the future, the vaccine
may also be available to
protect boys and men from
HPV.
Please call our office or
ask your doctor at your
next appointment if you
have further questions about
the Gardasil vaccine.
Thank you!
Dr. Judith Carpentier and
Linda Fallon, NP |
