What is HPV vaccination?
The HPV vaccination is a vaccination against human papillomaviruses. Among other things, these are considered the most important risk factor for cervical cancer. In addition, in some cases they also promote other diseases, such as other forms of cancer (e.g. penile cancer) as well as genital warts.
Because HPV vaccination reduces the most important risk factor for cervical cancer, it is colloquially called “cervical cancer vaccination” or “vaccination against cervical cancer.” However, this name is incorrect because the vaccination does not directly prevent cancer.
Vaccines
- The two-way HPV vaccine protects against infection with high-risk HPV types 16 and 18, which are responsible for about 70 percent of all cases of cervical cancer.
- The nine-drug HPV vaccine protects against high-risk types 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58, which together cause about 90 percent of all cases of cervical cancer. On the other hand, the vaccine also protects against the low-risk types HPV 6 and 11, which are considered the main triggers of genital warts (genital warts).
The HPV vaccines contain proteins from the envelope of the virus (capsid). The defense system forms special antibodies against these proteins. These enable a rapid and targeted defense when a person comes into contact with the pathogens after vaccination.
Well tolerated are generally both types of HPV vaccination. Side effects can nevertheless occur – as with all medications. They hardly differ between the two HPV vaccines, usually subside on their own after a short time and are usually not dangerous.
Very common side effects are:
- reactions at the injection site (redness, pain, swelling)
- Headache
- Muscle pain (dual HPV vaccine)
- fatigue (dual HPV vaccine)
Common side effects include:
- Fever
- Itching, rash, hives (two-way HPV vaccine)
- Itching and bleeding at the injection site (nine-way HPV vaccine)
- Joint pain (two-way HPV vaccine)
- Dizziness, fatigue (nine-way HPV vaccine)
With less frequency, other side effects sometimes occur, for example, upper respiratory tract infections (dual vaccine) or lymph node swelling (both vaccines).
Fainting in response to the shot (both vaccines) is possible if someone is generally afraid of shots. Affected people should tell the doctor about the fear of shots before receiving the vaccine.
Some people have an allergic reaction to the HPV vaccine (both vaccines). This may be manifested by swelling of the face and/or airways. In that case, you should see a doctor immediately!
No indication of infertility or “vaccine damage
In general, there is no ban on sports after a vaccination, but it is usually sensible not to overdo it immediately afterwards.
Are deaths possible?
In the past, there have been reports of isolated deaths after HPV vaccination (about one in Germany and one in Austria). So far, however, it has not been possible to prove in any of the cases that the vaccination was responsible for the death.
How long is HPV vaccination useful?
The Standing Commission on Vaccination (STIKO) recommends HPV vaccination for all children between the ages of nine and 14. Missed vaccinations should be followed up at the latest by the age of 18 – that is, by the last day before the 18th birthday. For girls and/or women the inoculation is meaningful against HPV naturally for the protection against cervix cancer. Find out below why it is also advisable for boys and men.
Whether girls or boys: The HPV vaccination is done before the first sexual intercourse, if possible, because you sometimes get infected with HPV during the first sex – and possibly also during foreplay!
The vaccination recommendation for girls has been in effect since 2007, and the HPV vaccination for boys has been recommended since 2018.
Why the vaccination recommendation for boys?
- HPV vaccination reduces the risk of penile and anal cancer as well as tumors in the mouth and throat (oral sex!). Human papillomaviruses are often involved in the development of these cancers, as in cervical cancer.
- The nine-fold vaccine against HPV protects not only girls / women against genital warts, but also boys / men.
- If, thanks to HPV vaccination, men / boys are protected from infection with human papillomaviruses, they also do not pass on such viruses to their sexual partners. This means that girls also benefit when boys receive the HPV vaccination.
HPV vaccination for adults?
For example, some young adults have not yet had sexual intercourse. Then the vaccination against HPV often still develops its full effect at this age.
Under certain circumstances, however, HPV vaccination is still useful even for an adult who is already sexually active. This may be the case, for example, if someone has already been infected with HPV 16, but not yet with other HPV viruses contained in the vaccine (such as the high-risk type HPV 18). Then the HPV vaccination protects the person concerned even after infection at least still against these virus types.
When may/should not be vaccinated?
In case of known hypersensitivity to ingredients of the vaccine, HPV vaccination should not be administered.
In case of acute, severe, febrile illnesses, HPV vaccination must be postponed. HPV vaccination is also not recommended during pregnancy.
What is the procedure for HPV vaccination?
For the HPV vaccination, you go to a pediatrician, general practitioner or gynecologist, for example. The doctor injects the vaccine into a muscle (preferably on the upper arm).
When starting with the HPV vaccination series from the age of 15, three vaccination doses are basically required for basic immunization.
The schedule for each vaccination dose varies slightly depending on the HPV vaccine used. The intervals between doses also depend on whether two or three vaccine doses are scheduled. It makes sense to complete the vaccination series within a year.
Some wonder if they are prohibited from having sex during immunization (multiple HPV vaccinations). It is important that the full HPV vaccination takes place before the first sexual intercourse. So the safest thing to do is not have sex before completing the vaccinations. Even condoms do not protect 100 percent against HPV infection.
Does the vaccination need a booster?
It has not yet been conclusively clarified whether a booster of the HPV vaccination is necessary at some point after a complete basic immunization. Study results to date indicate that vaccine protection against high-risk HPV types 16 and 18 is still maintained in girls and women, respectively, 12 years after vaccination.
HPV vaccination after conization
During a conization, the doctor cuts altered tissue out of the cervix in a cone shape, which could otherwise develop into cervical cancer. The risk of cell changes forming again later may be reduced if women receive HPV vaccination after conization. This is indicated by studies.
HPV vaccination: effectiveness
Whether they say yes or no to HPV vaccination is up to parents, adolescents and young adults, because vaccination is not currently mandatory.
Scientists have investigated the effectiveness of HPV vaccination in numerous studies. In summary, both HPV vaccines significantly reduce the risk of infection with those high-risk virus types most commonly involved in the development of cervical cancer (HPV 16 and 18). The nine-drug vaccine also protects against other HPV types that sometimes cause cervical cancer.
Two major recent studies also show that the HPV vaccine, which has been approved in Europe since 2006, can actually prevent cervical cancer:
- The British study (2021) also demonstrated a significantly reduced cancer risk through HPV vaccination. It showed that the younger the girls were when they were vaccinated, the lower their subsequent risk of cervical cancer.
Other studies demonstrated that HPV vaccination can prevent the formation of precancerous lesions.
Protection against other cancers as well as genital warts
The nine-dose vaccine additionally prevents infection with the main triggers of genital warts (HPV 6 and 11) as well as with other HPV risk types. The two-dose vaccine does not provide this protection.
The effectiveness of HPV vaccination depends on whether a child already has an HPV infection at the time of vaccination. One can become infected with HPV viruses even during the first sexual activity. Therefore, if the HPV vaccine is given to already sexually active adolescents, it may be less effective.
Not a substitute for preventive examinations!
HPV infection sometimes occurs despite vaccination, because the various vaccines are not effective against all HPV viruses, but only against the HPV types that are most frequently responsible for secondary diseases.
Costs of the HPV vaccination
The statutory health insurance companies pay for the HPV vaccination for children between the ages of nine and fourteen and also missed vaccinations until the 18th birthday. As a rule, private health insurance companies also do this. It is best to ask your insurance company in advance.
As far as HPV vaccination for adults is concerned, some insurance companies also cover the costs. Here, too, it is worth asking.
Vaccine shortage
To learn what physicians do when these supply shortages affect HPV vaccines, read our article Vaccine Shortages.
