FAQs

Fact: This vaccine has been around for many years and millions of women have been vaccinated across 122 countries across the world. It has proven to be safe and effective, with almost 100% women developing protective antibodies against HPV 6,11,16 and 18. These women were protected from precancerous cervical changes caused by these vaccine types. Preliminary data from the new vaccine (9 strains) also indicates equal immunogenicity and safety as the previous vaccines.

Fact: No definite causal link between the vaccine and death has been found till date. This data spans over 8 years. Studies have demonstrated similar small numbers of deaths in both the vaccine and placebo (non-vaccine) groups by e.g. road accidents, suicide, or other illnesses.

Fact: The trials could not ethically allow cervical cancer or death to be end points for evaluation. The trials show almost 100% efficacy in the prevention of high grade HPV types 16 and 18 related pre-cancers, which cause 70% of cervical cancers. In fact, the CDC estimates that an immunization rate of at least 80% would prevent an additional 53,000 cases of cervical cancer during the lifetimes of those currently younger than 12 years.

Fact: There is no evidence that immunity against the four genital HPV strains in the vaccine is associated with increasing prevalence of other HPV strains. In fact, there is some evidence of cross-protection from other HPV strains as well.

Fact: During the vaccine trials, the incidence of adverse events was the same in both vaccine and placebo (saline injections) groups. The aluminium component used in HPV vaccine is the same as that in most non-live vaccines and has an excellent safety record of over 70 years. All vaccines carry a very rare risk of anaphylaxis (1 in 300,000) and that of HPV vaccines is no different. Most (95%) reported side effects are minor and similar to those with other vaccines (fever, mild pain, redness or swelling of injection site). The new vaccine has a slightly higher rate of redness and swelling at the injection site, but even after 60 million doses administered so far, there are no data to suggest any severe adverse events linked to the vaccine.

Fact: Though there is no formal Indian data, this fact is no longer true. In addition, most girls who become infected with HPV do so within 2-5 years of becoming sexually active, so it is important to vaccinate before sexual debut. This includes any oral or genital contact, sexual intercourse isn’t always necessary. Since there are several strains of HPV and the vaccine only protects against specific ones, if a girl is infected with one or more strains before vaccination, the vaccine can’t treat them but will help to prevent others.

Fact: Evidence suggests that HPV vaccination will have no impact on sexual promiscuity, as many factors influence young peoples’ decisions about sexual activity including peer pressure, self-image and media. It may even serve to make them more conscious about their health and aware of the cervical screening at a younger age.

Fact: Studies were carried out on females between the ages of 9-26 years. However, for girls between 9-15 years the data collected included only antibody levels in the blood as it was not ethical to do pelvic exams on them, whilst for women between 16-26 years both antibody levels and cervical smears to detect precancerous changes were done. Thus, both the groups were evaluated for immune response to the vaccine and safety. The results showed that both the groups developed significant antibody levels, with the younger cohort developing higher antibody levels. Since the vaccine was almost 100% efficacious in preventing precancerous changes in the older cohort despite lower antibody levels, the research concluded that the vaccine would be equally if not more efficacious in the younger cohort as well.

Fact: In both USA & UK, HPV vaccine is licensed for boys for prevention of genital warts and anal cancer. The ACOG recommends that both girls and boys routinely receive the vaccination. Although this will help to reduce the virus pool in the population, it is cost effective only if the uptake in the female population is very low.

Fact: Data suggests that antibody levels are stable for more than at least 8 years with no signs of falling. In addition, antibody levels after vaccination are much higher than after natural infection. Both these indicate long term protection, due to similar immune response to other vaccines. There may be need of booster dose in the future, but that will become clear as longer term data are available.The US prevalence of vaccine-type HPV decreased by 56% among girls 14 to 19 years old from 2006 (when the quadrivalent HPV vaccine was introduced) and 2010.

Fact: The vaccine protects against HPV 16, 18 which cause most cases of cervical cancer. However, there are still at least 40 strains of HPV that can infect the cervix. Therefore sexually active women still need a Pap smear at regular intervals to detect precancerous changes caused by other HPV strains.

Fact: Both HPV vaccination and Pap smear are complementary. Whilst the vaccine will prevent precancerous changes, Pap smear will help to detect them early. The vaccine may help to decrease the need for further tests and treatments by preventing cervical cancer.

Fact: HPV vaccine does not cause infertility or sterility.

Fact: No specific congenital abnormalities resulting from the vaccine have been demonstrated. In the clinical trials, the pregnancy rates and congenital abnormalities were the same in both vaccinated and placebo (non vaccine) groups. Routinely testing for pregnancy is not recommended before vaccination. Although the vaccine is not recommended to pregnant women, inadvertent vaccination in pregnancy has no harmful effects. Breast-feeding women may be vaccinated.

Fact: On the contrary, these countries need the vaccine more due to higher prevalence of cervical cancer which if can be reduced by vaccination will be worth the investment. It can be cost effective by saving money on testing and treatment of cancers it prevents.
Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women between 20-44 years of age. HPV vaccination can serve to reduce the prevalence of cervical cancer in this population

Fact: The nanovalent vaccine is unnecessary for persons who received all 3 doses of earlier HPV vaccine but may be used to complete any series for persons who received only 1 or 2 doses of previous vaccines.

Fact: Routinely testing for HPV DNA is not recommended before HPV vaccination in any group. Patients testing positive for HPV DNA should still undergo vaccination