New HPV Vaccine Now Available

  • Published
  • By Maj. Michelle A. Hedrick
  • 82nd Medical Group
SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  The 82nd Medical Group Immunizations Clinic is now offering Gardasil, the vaccine for combating genital human papillomavirus. 

HPV is a family of viruses that cause cervical cancer, genital warts and other illnesses in women. More than 50 percent of sexually active men and women are infected with HPV at some time in their lives. The HPV vaccine protects individuals against four major types of HPV including two types that cause about 70 percent of all cervical cancers and two types that cause about 90 percent of genital warts. 

The vaccine is administered in a three-dose series with the second and third doses given two months and six months after the initial dose, respectively. 

The vaccine is available for all females, ages 9-26. The target age range is 11-12.
HPV vaccine can prevent most (not all) cases of cervical cancer and most (not all) genital warts. It is very important for girls to get the HPV vaccine before their first sexual contact -- before they become exposed to any type of HPV virus. 

Sexually-active females, even if previously exposed to one or more of the targeted viruses, can still be protected from additional strains. So, sexually-active women up to age 26 should be vaccinated as well. 

Young girls vaccinated prior to their first sexual contact can prevent almost 100 percent of the diseases or symptoms caused by the four types of HPV. 

The HPV vaccine does not appear to cause any severe side effects although all medications, including vaccines, carry some risk of allergic or other severe reaction. 

Several mild problems may occur with the HPV vaccine including pain, redness or swelling at the injection site or moderate fever. Mild symptoms do not last long and go away on their own. Life-threatening allergic reactions from the vaccine are very rare, and would occur within a few minutes to hours after the vaccine is administered. 

Please contact the Immunizations Clinic at 676-3757 or Women's Health Clinic at 676-4250 with any questions.