Divalent HPV Vaccine

Divalent HPV vaccine is a vaccine used to help protect against cervical cancer caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18 in girls and young women. It works by stimulating the immune system to fight off the HPV virus by producing antibodies.

Divalent HPV vaccine is a vaccine used to help protect against cervical cancer. It specifically prevents cancers and precancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) types 16 and 18.

• First dose: Intramuscular injection given at a time decided by you and your healthcare provider. 
• Second dose: given 1 month after the first dose 
• Third dose: given 6 months after the first dose

Make sure you get all 3 doses on time for the best protection. If you miss a scheduled dose, talk to your healthcare provider.

• You should continue to get routine cervical cancer screening (such as a Pap smear). 
• Divalent HPV vaccine may not fully protect everyone who gets the vaccine. 
• Not all cervical cancers are caused by the HPV types divalent HPV vaccine protects against. Divalent HPV vaccine will not protect against diseases from all HPV types. 
• Divalent HPV vaccine will not protect against HPV types that you already have.

You should not get divalent HPV vaccine if you have or have had an allergic reaction to a previous dose of divalent HPV vaccine or if you had an allergy to any of the ingredients in divalent HPV vaccine.

Divalent HPV vaccine is not recommended for use in pregnant women.

The most common side effects of divalent HPV vaccine are:

• pain, redness, and swelling where you got the shot
• feeling tired
• headache
• muscle aches
• nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain
• joint aches

Other possible side effects include:

• swollen glands (neck, armpit, or groin).

Call your healthcare provider or seek medical treatment immediately if you develop hives, difficulty breathing, or swelling of the throat, because these may be signs of a severe allergic reaction.

Tell your healthcare provider about these or any other side effects that concern you.

To help your doctor and pharmacist give you the best care, be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all the products you use (including prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, and herbal products) before starting treatment with divalent HPV vaccine. 

Some products that may interact with this drug include:

• "blood thinners" (such as Coumadin or warfarin)
• cancer chemotherapy
• corticosteroids (such as prednisone, dexamethasone)
• drugs that weaken the immune system (such as cyclosporine, tacrolimus)

This is not a complete list of divalent HPV vaccine drug interactions. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Divalent HPV vaccine is not recommended for use in pregnant women. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or are planning to get pregnant during the time period of the 3 shots.

Pregnancy Registry: If you are vaccinated during pregnancy, there is a registry. The purpose of the registry is to collect safety information about the health of you and your baby. Contact the registry as soon as you become aware of the pregnancy or ask your healthcare provider to contact the registry for you. You or your healthcare provider can get information and enroll in the registry by calling 1-888-452-9622.

Your healthcare provider will decide if you should get divalent HPV vaccine.

Tell your doctor if you are breastfeeding or if you are planning to breastfeed. It is not known if divalent HPV vaccine (or vaccine induced-antibodies) is excreted in human breast milk.