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--- Document: HPV Vaccines Are Safe For Your Child Document ---
INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
HPV Vaccines Are Safe For Your Child
| DISEASES and the VACCINES THAT PREVENT THEM |
HPV vaccines are safe and recommended for
girls and boys at age 11 or 12
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common virus that affects
men and women. HPV can cause cancers of the cervix, vagina,
and vulva in women; cancer of the penis in men, and cancers of
the anus and throat in men and women.
HPV vaccination is recommended for girls and boys at ages 11
or 12.There are three HPV vaccines approved by the Food and
Drug Administration (FDA) and recommended by the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to protect against
HPV and the cancers it can cause.
Like all vaccines used in the United States, HPV vaccines are
required to go through years of safety testing before they are
approved by the FDA. CDC and FDA closely monitor vaccines
to make sure they are safe even after they are available to
the public.
HPV vaccines have good safety records. Studies have shown that
each HPV vaccine is very safe, and careful safety monitoring has
not shown any problems.
HPV vaccines are very safe. CDC has carefully
studied the risks of HPV vaccination.
The benefits of HPV vaccination, such as
prevention of cancer, far outweigh the risks
of possible side effects.
Like any vaccine or medicine, HPV vaccines can
cause side effects
Some people have mild side effects after getting the HPV vaccine.
Common side effects include:
• Pain, swelling, or redness in the arm where the shot
was given
• Fever
• Headache or feeling tired
• Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or stomach pain
• Muscle or joint pain
Talk with your doctor about any health concerns
before vaccination
If your child is scheduled for HPV vaccination, tell your doctor
about any severe allergies. Some children should not get some
HPV vaccines, including:
• Children who have ever had a life-threatening allergic
reaction to any ingredient of an HPV vaccine, or to a
previous dose of HPV vaccine
• Children who have an allergy to yeast (Gardasil and
Gardasil 9)
• Children who have an allergy to latex (Cervarix)
HPV vaccines are safe for children who are mildly ill – for
example, with a low-grade fever of less than 101 degrees, a cold,
runny nose, or cough. Children with a moderate or severe illness
should wait until they are better.
09/09/2015 CS256663B
How many people
was it tested in?
When was it
approved?
Who is it
recommended for?
Gardasil
More than 29,000
volunteers
2006
Girls and boys at
age 11 or 12
Cervarix
More than 30,000
volunteers
2009
Girls age 11 or 12
Gardasil 9
More than
15,000 volunteers
2014
Girls and boys at
age 11 or 12 years
The safety of HPV vaccines was tested in thousands of
volunteers before the vaccines were approved
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American Academy of Family Physicians, and American Academy of
Pediatrics strongly recommend children receive all vaccines according to the recommended schedule.
Seek medical care if your child has a reaction
If your child is having a severe allergic reaction or other health
emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the nearest hospital.
Look for any signs or symptoms that concern you, like signs of
a severe allergic reaction, very high fever, or behavior changes.
These would start a few minutes to a few hours after the shot is
given.
Signs of a severe allergic reaction can include:
• Hives
• Swelling of the face and throat
• Difficulty breathing
• A fast heartbeat
• Dizziness
• Weakness
After seeing a doctor, you should report the reaction to the
Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS). CDC and
FDA use this system to track possible vaccine side effects. Your
doctor can file this report, or you can do it yourself through
the VAERS website at www.vaers.hhs.gov, or by calling
1-800-822-7967.
HPV vaccines don’t cause HPV infection or cancer
HPV vaccines cannot cause HPV infection or cancer. In fact,
HPV vaccines are very effective at protecting against HPV types
that cause cancers.
HPV vaccines don’t cause any fertility problems
Some parents have been concerned that HPV vaccines might
make their child unable to have children in the future. However,
HPV vaccines do not cause any fertility problems.
In fact, not getting HPV vaccination leaves boys and girls at risk
for cancers caused by HPV. A girl who develops cervical cancer
later in life due to HPV infection may require serious treatments
that could leave her unable to have children. HPV vaccination
can prevent these complications.
Fainting can happen after any medical procedure,
including HPV vaccination
Some people, especially teens, faint after getting vaccinated.
To prevent fainting and related injuries, people receiving HPV
vaccines should sit or lie down during vaccination, then remain
seated for 15 minutes after the shot. People should tell the doctor
or nurse if they’re feeling dizzy, faint, or light-headed.