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Human Papillovavirus (HPV)

Quick Facts

HPV 
  • Human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are among the most commonly sexually transmitted infections, which can infect the genital areas, mouth or throat of women and men, and either have no symptoms or can cause genital warts;
  • Out of more than 40 types of HPV that are sexually transmitted, about 15 HPV types are associated with cancer of the cervix and other genital cancers affecting women and men;
  • HPV infection is experienced by the majority of sexually active women and men and is naturally cleared from the body within two years by more than 90 percent of those, who become infected. Antibodies to the HPV type, which caused the infection, remain in the body to help prevent future re-infection with that same HPV type;
  • Rarely, HPV infection does not clear from the body naturally and the infection becomes chronic. Among high risk factor for chronic HPV infection are smoking, co-infection with herpes, Chlamydia or HIV; long term birth control use and multiple births;
  • Women chronically infected with HPV for many years, who don’t get pre-cancerous cervical lesions promptly identified and treated, can develop cervical cancer and die. After Pap test screening became a routine part of health care for American women in the 1960’s, cervical cancer cases in the U.S. dropped 74 percent and continued Pap testing is recommended for women who receive HPV vaccines.
  • In 2008, about 12,000 American women were diagnosed with cervical cancer there were about 4,000 related deaths reported. Less than 3% of the nearly 1.6M diagnosed cancer cases and more than 500,000 cancer deaths that occur in the U.S. annually involve chronic HPV infection-associated cervical or other genital cancers in women and men. 
HPV Vaccine 
  • There are two FDA approved HPV vaccines marketed in the U.S. to prevent HPV infection with several different types of HPV: Gardasil vaccine, which contains 2 of 15 HPV types most associated with cervical cancer and 2 HPV types associated with genital warts and is licensed for use by women and men; and Cervarix vaccine, which contains two HPV types most associated with cervical cancer, and is licensed for use only by women;
  • Merck’s Gardasil vaccine was studied for less than 3 years in about 12,000 healthy girls and 14000 healthy boys under age 16 before it was licensed in 2006. Gardasil was not studied in children with health problems or in combination with all other vaccines routinely given to American adolescents. Clinical trials did not use a true placebo to study safety but compared Gardasil against the reactive aluminum adjuvant in Gardasil;
  • After Gardasil was licensed and three doses recommended for 11-12 year old girls and teenagers, there were thousands of reports of sudden collapse with unconsciousness within 24 hours, seizures, muscle pain and weakness, disabling fatigue, Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS), facial paralysis, brain inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, blood clots, optic neuritis, multiple sclerosis, strokes, heart and other serious health problems, including death, following receipt of Gardasil vaccine.
  • GlaxoSmithKline’s Cervarix vaccine, which has been used in Europe since 2007 and was licensed in the U.S. in 2009, contains a potent AS04 adjuvant containing aluminum and MPL, which has never been used in U.S. vaccines. Cervarix was studied for less than 6 years in fewer than 1200 healthy girls under age15 and was not tested with a true placebo but was compared against Hepatitis A vaccine and other childhood vaccines that can cause serious reactions.
  • Cervarix adverse event reports have been similar to Gardasil adverse event reports. As of August 2012, there have been a total of 26,304 reports made to the federal Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System (VAERS) associated with Gardasil or Cervarix vaccines, including 118 deaths. 
NVIC “Quick Facts” is not a substitute for becoming fully informed about HPV and HPV vaccines. NVIC recommends consumers read the more complete information following the "Quick Facts", as well as the vaccine manufacturer product information inserts, and speak with one or more trusted health care professionals before making a vaccination decision for yourself or your child.

Food & Drug Administration (FDA) 

Vaccine Reaction Symptoms & Ingredients

Our Ask 8, If You Vaccinate webpage contains vaccine reaction symptoms and more. Calculate vaccine ingredients for potential toxic exposures & print a vaccination plan with the Vaccine Ingredients Calculator.

Search for Vaccine Reactions

NVIC hosts MedAlerts, a powerful VAERS database search engine. MedAlerts examines symptoms, reactions, vaccines, dates, places, and more.

Reporting a Vaccine Reaction

Since 1982 NVIC has operated a Vaccine Reaction Registry, which has served as a watchdog on VAERS. Reporting vaccine reactions to VAERS is the law. If your doctor will not report a reaction, you have the right to report a suspected vaccine reaction to VAERS.VAERS is the law. If your doctor will not report a reaction, you have the right to report a suspected vaccine reaction to VAERS.

NVIC Referenced Commentaries on HPV Vaccine 
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
National Institute of Allergy & Infectious Diseases (NIAID) 
 

Sign a Petition to Investigate Gardasil Risks

What Is HPV Infection?

Stories & Photos of Gardasil Vaccine Reactions 

NVIC Press Releases and Special Reports on Gardasil Vaccine

NVIC Statements on Gardasil Vaccine Risks

  • Barbara Loe Fisher at Rally in Washington, D.C., March 8, 2007
  • Letter to Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) of Centers for Disease Control (August 14, 2007)

TV Reports and Videos on Gardasil Vaccine

Radio Show

  • 30-minute radio interview by Peter Tucker on "Spectrum Today" (WPFW - 89.3FM) on June 23, 2010  with Emily Tarsell, whose 21-year old daughter, Christine, died on June 23, 2008 after a series of Gardasil shots.   
  • “W.O.M.A.N….Redefining Woman” with Gina Cloud Contact Talk Radio Archives (scroll down the Archives).
  • November 21, 2006: Barbara Loe Fisher talks about the cons of the new HPV vaccine with Gina (this interview was downloaded more than one million times on Contact Talk Radio)
  • October 28, 2008: Barbara Loe Fisher talks with Gina Cloud on Contact Talk Radio about the hazards of the HPV and Menactra vaccines.
  • February 22, 2007: WNYC Radio (NPR) — The Brian Lehrer Show “Healthy, Wealthy & Wise" - "Strange Bedfellows"

    "At least 20 states are considering mandatory vaccination of young girls against the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer. But the backlash has been fast and furious--and has led to some unlikely alliances. Barbara Loe Fisher, co-founder and president of the National Vaccine Information Center, and Moira Gaul, director of women's and reproductive health at the Family Research Council, talk about their opposition to mandatory vaccination. Sheila Krumholz, executive director, Center for Responsive Politics, talks about the lobbying efforts and legislative influence of the pharmaceutical industry."

Selected Print Media Reports

Selected Medical Literature Articles:

Gardasil Vaccine Product Manufacturer Insert

Merck & Co. 2008. Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus Types 6,11,16,18) Recombinant Vaccine

Centers for Disease Control Information

Food and Drug Administration

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

Other Resources

  • PROVE (Parents Requesting Open Vaccine Education)
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