HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS VACCINE (HPV)

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    Indications

    • Prevention of premalignant anogenital lesions, mainly of the cervix, and of cervical cancer, due to certain types of papilloma viruses
    • Prevention of anogenital warts due to certain types of papilloma viruses (particularly types 6 and 11) for the quadrivalent vaccine

    Composition, forms, route of administration

    • Recombinant bivalent (HPV type 16 and 18) or quadrivalent (HPV type 6, 11, 16 and 18) vaccine
    • Suspension for injection in monodose or multidose (only for bivalent vaccine) vials, for IM injection into the deltoid muscle

    Dosage and vaccination schedule

    • Child from 9 to 14 years:

    2 doses of 0.5 ml at least 6 months apart

    If the 2 doses are administered less than 5 months apart, a 3rd dose is administered at least 6 months and up to 12 months maximum after the 1st dose.

    • Immunocompromised or HIV-infected individuals (under treatment or not):

    2 doses of 0.5 ml 1 or 2 months apart then a 3rd dose 6 months after the 1st dose

     

    Most vaccination programmes only target young females, the population group most at risk of papillomavirus infection complications. Acheiving high vaccination coverage in girls reduces the risk of infection for boys. For vaccination of boys, follow national recommendations.

    Contra-indications, adverse effects, precautions

    • Do not administer in the event of allergic reactions to a previous dose of papillomavirus vaccine.
    • Vaccination should be postponed in the event of severe acute febrile illness; minor infections are not contra-indications.
    • May cause: mild reactions at the injection site (pain, redness at the injection site), fever, headache, myalgia; rarely: post-vaccination syncope, anaphylactic reactions.
    • If administered simultaneously with other vaccines, use different syringes and injection sites. 
    • Pregnancy: avoid
    • Breast-feeding: no contra-indication

    Remarks

    • In individuals 15 years or over, the vaccine is administered in 3 doses (as in immunocompromised individuals).
    • Shake before use to homogenise the vaccine.

    Storage

     
    –  Between 2 °C and 8 °C. Do not freeze.
    Once opened, the multidose bivalent (Cervarix®) vaccine vials can be stored between 2 °C and 8 °C for 6 hours maximum.
    Controlled temperature chain (CTC): the quadrivalent vaccine (Gardasil®) can be stored at temperatures of up to 42 °C for 3 days maximum. All vaccines removed from the cold chain and not used within 3 days or exposed to temperatures > 42 °C must be discarded.