Gardasil 9 is a vaccine against HPV that protects against 9 types of the virus - 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58 - that are the main responsible for the appearance of cancer in the cervix, but also of other alterations like genital warts and other types of cancer like anus, vulva and vagina.
This type of vaccine is not included in the vaccination plan and therefore is not administered free of charge and needs to be purchased from pharmacies. In addition to Gardasil 9, Gardasil, which has been developed earlier, has a lower price but only protects against 4 types of the HPV virus. Learn more about this type of vaccine.
When to do the vaccination
Gardasil 9 can be made by children over 9 years old, adolescents and adults who have not yet started their sex life. This is because the vaccine only protects against infection by the virus, not representing a cure when the virus is already in the body.
Since a large proportion of adults have had some kind of intimate contact, there is an increased risk of having some type of HPV virus in the body, and in such cases, even if the vaccine is administered, there may still be some risk of develop cancer.
How to take the vaccine
The doses of Gardasil 9 vary according to the age, and the general recommendations advise:
- 9 to 14 years : 2 doses should be administered, and the second dose needs to be done between 5 and 13 months after the first;
- Over 15 years : It is advisable to make a 3-dose regimen, where the second regimen is given after 2 months and the third regimen is given after 6 months of the first regimen.
People who have already been vaccinated with a quadravalent vaccine, such as Gardasil, can make Gardasil 9 in 3 doses to ensure protection against 5 more types of HPV.
Vaccine doses can be given at private clinics or at SUS health clinics by a nurse, however, the vaccine needs to be purchased at a pharmacy as it is not part of the vaccination plan.
Possible side effects
The most common side effects of using this vaccine include headache, dizziness, nausea, excessive tiredness and reactions at the site of the bite, such as redness, swelling and pain. To relieve the effects in the loca, it is advisable to apply ice packs.
Who should not take the vaccine
Gardasil 9 should not be given to pregnant women or people who are allergic to any of the ingredients in the formula.
