From the Guidelines
The recommended dose for the Gardasil vaccine is a series of two or three shots, depending on the age at which vaccination begins, with the most recent and highest quality evidence supporting a 2-dose series for individuals initiating the vaccine series from 9 through 14 years of age 1.
Key Considerations
- For individuals who start the series before their 15th birthday, two doses are recommended, with the second dose given 6-12 months after the first 1.
- For those who begin vaccination at age 15 or older, three doses are recommended, with the second dose given 1-2 months after the first dose and the third dose given 6 months after the first dose 1.
- The vaccine is administered as an intramuscular injection, typically in the upper arm or thigh.
- The dosing schedule is designed to provide optimal immune protection against HPV types covered by the vaccine.
Rationale
- The immune response with a 12-month interval between the 2 doses was more robust than that measured when the interval was only 6 months 1.
- Geometric mean antibody titers against all HPV types in the 9vHPV vaccine were higher in the 9- through 14-year-old age groups than in the 16- through 26-year-old women 1.
- Current data suggesting stronger immune responses in younger individuals may result in routinely recommending HPV vaccination for individuals as young as 9 years of age 1.
Important Notes
- A series begun with 4vHPV can be completed with 9vHPV 1.
- Health care provider recommendation and physician attitude play a major role in the decision to vaccinate against HPV 1.
- The "same way, same day" slogan of the CDC promotes the recommendation of HPV vaccine with Tdap and meningococcal vaccines, grouping the 3 vaccines together to avoid singling the HPV vaccine out 1.
From the Research
Recommended Dose for Gardasil Vaccine
The recommended dose for the Gardasil vaccine is typically administered in a series of doses.
- A 3-dose immunization schedule is commonly recommended for the prevention of HPV types 6-, 11-, 16-, 18-, 31-, 33-, 45-, 52- and 58-related cancers and anogenital warts in females aged 9 to 45 years and males aged 9 to 26 years 2.
- However, some studies suggest that a 2-dose immunization schedule may be effective in young females and males, with a schedule of 0,6-12 months 2.
- Additionally, research has shown that even one dose of the vaccine can be effective in individuals aged 15 years or younger, particularly in developing countries with limited access to healthcare 3.
- The effectiveness of the vaccine dose is age-dependent, with higher effectiveness seen in younger individuals 3.
- It is essential to follow the recommended vaccination schedule to ensure optimal protection against HPV-related diseases 3, 4.
Factors Affecting Vaccine Effectiveness
Several factors can impact the effectiveness of the Gardasil vaccine, including:
- Age: Vaccine effectiveness decreases with increasing age 3.
- Sex: Vaccine effectiveness may vary between males and females 3.
- Genotype: The effectiveness of the vaccine can be influenced by the individual's genotype, which depends on the geographical region 3.
- Healthcare system: Access to healthcare and the quality of the healthcare system can affect vaccine effectiveness and herd immunity 3.
- Screening and follow-up: Regular screening and follow-up can aid in cancer prevention, particularly in nations with suboptimal vaccination coverage 3.