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External Resources: Vaccines
American Cancer Society
There are vaccines that can help protect young women and men from some HPV infections. These vaccines are used to prevent cancer that can result from an HPV infection. They
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
HPV is a common virus that infects men and women.80% of people will get an HPV infection in their lifetime. Most HPV infections will go away on their own. Infections that don’t go away can cause precancers and cancers.
Nearly all sexually active people will get human papillomavirus (HPV) at some time in their life. Although most HPV infections go away on their own without causing problems, HPV can cause men to develop genital warts, or some kinds of cancer. Getting vaccinated against HPV can help prevent these health problems.
CDC now recommends 11 to 12 year olds get two doses of HPV vaccine—rather than the previously recommended three doses—to protect against cancers caused by HPV. The second dose should be given 6-12 months after the first dose. For more information on the updated recommendations, read the MMWR:
Cancer often takes years, even decades, to develop after a person gets HPV.
HPV is short for human papillomavirus.
Food and Drug Administration
Vaccines: Approved Products
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Cancer preventive vaccines target infectious agents that cause or contribute to the development of cancer.
High-risk HPV types cause approximately 5% of all cancers worldwide. HPV vaccination can reduce the risk of infection by the HPV types targeted by the vaccine.
Three vaccines are approved by the FDA to prevent HPV infection: Gardasil, Gardasil 9, and Cervarix. All three vaccines prevent infections with HPV types 16 and 18, two high-risk HPVs that cause about 70% of cervical cancers and an even higher percentage of some of the other HPV-associated cancers.
Additional Resources
Merck is currently running a media campaign titled “Not My Child,“ encouraging parents of adolescents to “get in the way” of certain HPV-related cancers.
HPV is a virus that has been linked to many different types of cancer. The good news is there are vaccines available to protect against HPV and reduce your cancer risk.
HPV Vaccines May Prevent Cervical Cancer
Cervical cancer is a disease that starts in the cervix, the lower, narrow end of the uterus. It is almost always caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is a common virus that can be passed from one person to another during sex.
Think About the Link® is a prevention and education campaign from the Prevent Cancer Foundation® that aims to raise awareness about the connection between certain viruses and cancer.