Gardasil HPV Vaccine (cont.)
In this Article
- What is the HPV vaccine?
- Who should get the HPV vaccine?
- Are there other HPV vaccines in development?
- How and when is the vaccine delivered?
- Is the HPV vaccine effective?
- Is the HPV vaccine safe?
- Does the vaccine contain thimerosal or mercury?
- How long does vaccine protection last? Will a booster shot be needed?
- Will girls and women be protected against HPV and related diseases, even if they don't get all three doses?
- If a woman turns 27 years of age after the first dose of HPV was administered but before the next doses are administered, should the series be completed?
- Does the vaccine protect against cervical cancer?
- How common is cervical cancer?
- Will the women who have been vaccinated still need cervical cancer screening?
- Why is the vaccine only recommended for females ages 9 through 26?
- Why is HPV vaccine recommended for girls 11 to 12 years of age?
- Should pregnant women be vaccinated?
- What about vaccinating males?
- Will my child be required to get the vaccine before she enters school?
- How much will the HPV vaccine cost?
- Will the vaccine be covered by insurance plans?
- How can I get the vaccine if I don't have insurance?
Should pregnant women be vaccinated?
The vaccine is not recommended for pregnant women. There has only been limited information about vaccine safety among pregnant women and their unborn babies. So far, studies suggest that the vaccine has not caused health problems during pregnancy, nor has it caused health problems for the child. But more research is still needed. For now, pregnant women should wait to complete their pregnancy before getting the vaccine. If a women finds out she is pregnant after she has started getting the vaccine series, she should wait until after her pregnancy is completed to finish the three-dose series.
What about vaccinating males?
The CDC has now approved Gardasil for boys and recommends they receive it in the same age group as girls.
Will my child be required to get the vaccine before she enters school?
There are no federal laws requiring the immunization of children. All school and daycare entry laws are state laws and vary from state to state. Therefore, you should check with your state health department or Board of Education to find out what vaccines your child will need to enter school or daycare.
Each year the CDC publishes childhood and adolescent immunization schedules that provide recommended timelines for immunization of children and adolescents. The annual childhood and adolescent immunization schedules are a joint effort of the CDC, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). While these organizations have no regulatory authority over the immunization of children, the recommendations of the CDC, AAP, and AAFP are considered standards of medical practice and most physicians follow the recommendations.
Find out what women really need.