HPV 9 Vaccine Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Why get vaccinated?
A: HPV vaccine prevents infection with human papillomavirus (HPV) subtypes that are associated with many cancers, including:
- cervical cancer in females,
- vaginal and vulvar cancers in females,
- anal cancer in females and males,
- throat cancer in females and males, and
- penile cancer in males.
In addition, HPV vaccine prevents infection with HPV types that cause genital warts in both females and males.
In China, cervical cancer is the second commonly diagnosed cancer among women between the ages of 15 and 44, with about 100,000 new cancer diagnosis and almost 30,000 deaths each year [1]. HPV vaccine can prevent most cases of cervical cancer. Vaccination is not a substitute for cervical cancer screening. This vaccine does not protect against all HPV subtypes that can cause cervical cancer. Women should still get regular Pap tests.
HPV infection usually comes from sexual contact, and most people will become infected at some point in their lives. Most infections will go away on their own and do not cause serious problems, but a number of women and men can get cancer and other diseases from HPV.
Q: What does the subtype of HPV vaccine represent?
A: Three vaccines are available globally, which are HPV 9, HPV 4, and HPV 2. They represent the number of the antigen subtypes to HPV virus included in the vaccine, the higher the number, the more antigen subtypes it will cover, and the wider the protective range. Sub types-16 and 18 are the high-risk types that cause most cases of cervical cancer globally. Subtypes 6 and 11 are low risk types, which usually cause genital warts (condyloma acuminatum).
Q: How to choose among the different HPV vaccines?
A: 1) HPV- 9 vaccine – should be your first choice if available
The HPV- 9 brand name is Gardasil 9, manufactured by Merck.
In addition to subtypes 4,11,16,18 from the HPV- 4 vaccine, subtypes 52 and 58, which are more common in Chinese people, are included in the HPV- 9 vaccine. It increases the protective efficiency from 70 percent to 90 percent, which is a breakthrough. It is approved overseas for both men and women from age nine, but it has not been registered in mainland China yet.
2) HPV- 4 vaccine – for sexually active women
The HPV- 4 brand name is Gardasil 4, manufactured by Merck.
This vaccine can be used to prevent both high risk types (16, 18), and genital warts (6, 11). It is recommended for women with multiple sexual partners and active sexual activity. In mainland China, it is approved to be used for females aged 20-45 years old.
3) HPV-2 vaccine – for females not sexually active
The HPV-2 brand name is Cervarix, manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline.
This vaccine is formulated with AS04 adjuvant compared to a vaccine traditionally formulated with traditional aluminum salt and it can induce an immune response of higher magnitude and persistence [2]. It cannot prevent sexually transmitted diseases caused by other types, thus it is recommended for females who are not sexually active. In mainland China, it is approved to be used for females aged 9-25 years old.
Source：
- Chen WQ, Zheng RS, Baade PD, et al. Cancer Statistics in China, 2015. CA CANCER J CLIN 2016; 00:00–00:1-18.
- Giannini SL, Hanon E, Moris P, et al. Enhanced humoral and memory B cellular immunity using HPV16/18 L1 VLP vaccine formulated with the MPL/aluminium salt combination (AS04) compared to aluminium salt only. Vaccine 2006; 24: 5937-49.