Vaccines and Preventable Diseases:
HPV Vaccination
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is a common virus that is spread through sexual contact. Most of the time HPV has no symptoms so people do not know they have it.
There are approximately 40 types of genital HPV. Somes types can cause cervical cancer in women and can also cause other kinds of cancer in both men and women. Other types can cause genital warts in both males and females. The HPV vaccine works by preventing the most common types of HPV that cause cervical cancer and genital warts. It is given as a 3-dose vaccine.

What You Should Know:
For Health Professionals:
For the Media:
What You Should Know
- Genital HPV Infection
Statistics, treatment, resources, facts, etc. - Cervical Cancer
- Cervical Cancer: The Preventable Gynecologic Cancer Posted Feb 2010
- Cervical Cancer
Explains what cervical cancer is and describes the Pap Test - Making Progress against Cervical Cancer Posted Jan 2009
- HPV Infection Fact Sheet for the Public
Includes Q&A about genital warts, cancer, etc. - Pictures of HPV
Warning: Some of these photos are quite graphic.
- Questions & Answers about HPV Vaccine Updated April 2011
- Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
- Side Effects
- School Vaccine Requirements
- Questions and Answers about HPV Vaccine Safety
- Information from CDC & FDA on the Safety of Gardasil® Vaccine
- CDC's HPV Vaccine Safety website
For Health Professionals
Clinical Information on HPV
- Brochure--HPV Information for Clinicians
- Clinicans’ resources on Genital HPV Infection
- HPV & HPV Vaccine - Info for Healthcare Providers
- Ask the Experts about HPV
CDC experts answer your clinical questions (Immunization Action Coalition)
Vaccine Recommendations on HPV
- ACIP recommendations
- Standing Orders
- Contraindications
- Proper storage and handling of vaccines UPDATED dec 2011
CDC Vaccine Storage and Handling guide includes shelf life, reconstitution instructions... - Package inserts (Gardasil
, Cervarix
, and more package inserts...
) Posted Feb 2010
- ACIP - Vaccines for Children (VFC) Resolution
References and Resources
- Reports of Health Concerns Following HPV Vaccination Posted Jun 2010
- Mother-Daughter Communication and Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Uptake by College Students Posted May 2010
PEDIATRICS Vol. 125 No. 5 May 2010, pp. 982-989
- Pink Book's chapter on HPV (Updated April 2011)
Epidemiology & Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, 12th Edition - Surveillance manual's chapter on HPV
Manual for the Surveillance of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases textbook - Statistics
- Pre-teen Vaccine Campaign materials
Posters, flyers, PSAs, podcasts, videos, web button, and matte articles - Travel: Yellow Book
Preventive measures for travelers
Provider Education
- CDC Commentary: New Safety Data on the HPV Vaccine -- Reassure Your Patients
In this video commentary from the CDC, Dr. Claudia Velozzi reviews the most recent, and reassuring, safety data for Gardasil, the vaccine for HPV. CDC Expert Commentary, June 2010 - CME Credit: HPV Immunization for Male and Female Patients: Strategies to Reduce the Disease Burden Released: 12/13/2010 (CME credit until 12-13-2011)
From Medscape Education Posted Dec 2010 - CME Credit: Coadministration of Gardasil With Menactra, Adacel May Be Safe, Immunogenic
Posted May 2010 (CME credit until 5-17-11)
From MedscapeCME Clinical Briefs - Human Papillomavirus
Brochure: Info for Clinicians
Brochure on transmission, prevention, detection & clinical management of HPV - Webcast: HPV & Cervical Cancer: An Update on Prevention Strategies
- Adolescent Immunizations: A Practive-based Approach
- Educator's resources
- Podcasts on HPV Vaccination
Materials for Patients
- Questions and Answers about HPV Vaccine Safety
- Vaccine Information Statement (VIS)
- HPV and Pre-teen Vaccine Campaign Flyers and Posters
- Common Questions about HPV & Cervical Cancer for Women who Have HPV
- Genital HPV--Common Infection Common Reality
- What Every Woman Should Know About Cervical Cancer & HPV
American Cancer Society (ACS) fact sheet - Virus del Papiloma Humano (VPH) - Las vacunas y las enfermedades que previenen
(Spanish materials)
For the Media
- HPV Vaccines Offer Disease Protection Pre-teens Can Grow Into—Now for Girls and Boys
[PDF-81KB - 1 page] Posted Dec 2010
Matte release or ready-to-print, formatted article, free to use in any publication - FDA approves new vaccine, Cervarix, for prevention of
cervical cancer caused by HPV types 16 and 18 Posted Oct 2009
For use in girls and women ages 10 years through 25 years - FDA approved use of the vaccine Gardasil for prevention of genital warts (condyloma acuminata) due to HPV types 6 and 11 Posted Oct 2009
For boys and men ages 9 through 26 years
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Content last reviewed on January 20, 2010
Content Source: National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases