There is a vaccine for HPV. This vaccine, marketed asGardasil, prevents infection with HPV by virus subtypes 6,11, 16, and 18. The vaccine is highly safe, and the only sideeffect in a patient might be a slight fever. Redness and irritationat the site of injection is also possible. The vaccinecontains no live HPV virus, so it is impossible to get the diseasefrom the vaccine. Gardasil is between 95% and 100% efficacious against HPV types 6, 11, 16, and 18. The vaccineis approved by the FDA for girls and women with the age of9 to 26 years. It is best to get the vaccine before becomingsexually active. The vaccine is given in a three-shot regimenafter the first injection. The second injection is given 2months later, and followed by a third injection 6 months afterthe first injection. The vaccine will not treat or cure HPV. Itmay help people who have one type of HPV from being infectedwith other types. For example, if the patient has type 6HPV, it may protect that patient from contracting type 16.
