Safety and side effects

GARDASIL 9 safety and side effects

For more information on GARDASIL 9, talk to your child’s doctor at their next visit.

HPV, human papillomavirus.

The most common side effects of GARDASIL 9 include:

  • pain, swelling, redness, itching, bruising, bleeding, and a lump where your child got the shot
  • headache
  • fever
  • nausea
  • dizziness
  • tiredness
  • diarrhea
  • abdominal pain
  • sore throat

Fainting can happen after getting an HPV vaccine. Sometimes people who faint can fall and hurt themselves. For this reason, your child’s doctor may ask them to sit or lie down for 15 minutes after they get GARDASIL 9. Some people who faint might shake or become stiff, which may need treatment.

Contact your child’s doctor right away if your child gets any symptoms that concern you.

For a more complete list of side effects, ask your child’s doctor.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Can my child get GARDASIL 9 with other vaccines?

Your child may get GARDASIL 9 at the same time as:

  • Menactra [Meningococcal (Groups A, C, Y and W-135) Polysaccharide Diphtheria Toxoid Conjugate Vaccine]a
  • Adacel [Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid, and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed (Tdap)]a

Studies show that when GARDASIL 9 was given at the same time as Menactra and Adacel, there was more swelling in the location of the shot.

aMenactra [Meningococcal (Groups A, C, Y and W-135) Polysaccharide Diphtheria Toxoid Conjugate Vaccine] and Adacel [Tetanus Toxoid, Reduced Diphtheria Toxoid, and Acellular Pertussis Vaccine Adsorbed (Tdap)] are the trademarks of their respective owners and are not trademarks of Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC.

Who should not get GARDASIL 9?

Your child should not get GARDASIL 9 if they have or have had an allergic reaction to:

  • A previous dose of GARDASIL 9 or GARDASIL® [Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent (Types 6, 11, 16, and 18) Vaccine, Recombinant]
  • Yeast (severe allergic reaction)
  • Amorphous aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate
  • Polysorbate 80

Your child’s doctor will help you decide if your child should get the HPV vaccine.

What should my child’s doctor know before my child receives GARDASIL 9?

Tell your child’s doctor if your child:

  • Is pregnant or planning to get pregnant
  • Has immune problems, like an HIV infection, cancer, or if your child takes medicines that affect the immune system
  • Has a fever over 100°F (37.8°C)
  • Might have had or has had an allergic reaction to a previous dose of GARDASIL 9 or GARDASIL
  • Takes any medicines, even those you can buy over the counter

Your child’s doctor will help decide if your child should get the GARDASIL 9 vaccine.

Some questions parents may have

How could my child get HPV?

HPV can be passed through more than just intercourse. All that may be needed is skin-to-skin contact with an area of the body infected with HPV. Anyone who has the virus could pass it on without knowing.

For most people, HPV clears on its own. But for those who don’t clear the virus, it can cause certain cancers later in life.

There is no way to know which people who have HPV will develop cancer or other HPV-related diseases.

Explore FAQs

Can my child get HPV or any diseases caused by HPV from GARDASIL 9?

People cannot get HPV or any of these diseases from GARDASIL 9.

For more information on GARDASIL 9, talk to your child’s doctor.

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About GARDASIL 9

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About HPV-related cancers

Talk to your child’s doctor about the HPV vaccine

Talk to your child’s doctor about the HPV vaccine

What is GARDASIL®9 (Human Papillomavirus 9-valent Vaccine, Recombinant)?

GARDASIL 9 helps protect individuals ages 9 to 45 against the following diseases caused by 9 types of HPV: cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers in females, anal cancer, certain head and neck cancers, such as throat and back of mouth cancers and genital warts in both males and females.

 

GARDASIL 9 may not fully protect everyone, nor will it protect against diseases caused by other HPV types or against diseases not caused by HPV. GARDASIL 9 does not prevent all types of cervical, vulvar, vaginal, anal, or head and neck cancers.

 

Vaccination does not remove the need for recommended cancer screenings, and it’s important to get routine cervical cancer screenings. GARDASIL 9 does not
treat HPV infection, cancer, or genital warts.

 

GARDASIL 9 is a shot that is usually given in the arm muscle. GARDASIL 9 may be given as 2 or 3 shots.

  • For persons 9 through 14 years of age, GARDASIL 9 can be given using a 2-dose or 3-dose schedule. For the 2-dose schedule, the second shot should be given 6-12 months after the first shot. If the second shot is given less than 5 months after the first shot, a third shot should be given at least 4 months after the second shot. For the 3-dose schedule, the second shot should be given 2 months after the first shot and the third shot should be given 6 months after the first shot.
  • For persons 15 through 45 years of age, GARDASIL 9 is given using a 3-dose schedule; the second shot should be given 2 months after the first shot and the third shot should be given 6 months after the first shot.

The appropriate dosing schedule will be determined by a health care professional.

Important Safety Information

Anyone with an allergic reaction to the ingredients of GARDASIL 9 or GARDASIL® [Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent (Types 6, 11, 16, and 18) Vaccine, Recombinant], including those severely allergic to yeast, should not receive the vaccine. GARDASIL 9 was not studied in women who knew they were pregnant.

 

Fainting can happen after getting GARDASIL 9. Sometimes people who faint can fall and hurt themselves. For this reason, the health care professional may ask the person getting GARDASIL 9 to sit or lie down for 15 minutes after getting the vaccine. Some people who faint might shake or become stiff.

 

The side effects include pain, swelling, redness, itching, bruising, bleeding, and a lump where you got the shot; headache; fever; nausea; and dizziness.

 

Only a doctor or health care professional can decide if GARDASIL 9 is right for your child.

 

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.
Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

 

Please read the Patient Information for GARDASIL 9, and discuss it with your or your child’s doctor. The physician Prescribing Information also is available.

What is GARDASIL®9 (Human Papillomavirus 9-valent Vaccine, Recombinant)?

GARDASIL 9 helps protect individuals ages 9 to 45 against the following diseases caused by 9 types of HPV: cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers in females, anal cancer, certain head and neck cancers, such as throat and back of mouth cancers and genital warts in both males and females.

 

GARDASIL 9 may not fully protect everyone, nor will it protect against diseases caused by other HPV types or against diseases not caused by HPV. GARDASIL 9 does not prevent all types of cervical, vulvar, vaginal, anal, or head and neck cancers.

 

Vaccination does not remove the need for recommended cancer screenings, and it’s important to get routine cervical cancer screenings. GARDASIL 9 does not
treat HPV infection, cancer, or genital warts.

 

GARDASIL 9 is a shot that is usually given in the arm muscle. GARDASIL 9 may be given as 2 or 3 shots.

  • For persons 9 through 14 years of age, GARDASIL 9 can be given using a 2-dose or 3-dose schedule. For the 2-dose schedule, the second shot should be given 6-12 months after the first shot. If the second shot is given less than 5 months after the first shot, a third shot should be given at least 4 months after the second shot. For the 3-dose schedule, the second shot should be given 2 months after the first shot and the third shot should be given 6 months after the first shot.
  • For persons 15 through 45 years of age, GARDASIL 9 is given using a 3-dose schedule; the second shot should be given 2 months after the first shot and the third shot should be given 6 months after the first shot.

The appropriate dosing schedule will be determined by a health care professional.

GARDASIL 9 helps protect individuals ages 9 to 45 against the following diseases caused by 9 types of HPV: cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers in females, anal cancer,

GARDASIL 9 helps protect individuals ages 9 to 45 against the following diseases caused by 9 types of HPV: cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers in females, anal cancer, certain head and neck cancers, such as throat and back of mouth cancers and genital warts in both males and females.

Important Safety Information for GARDASIL®9 (Human Papillomavirus 9-valent Vaccine, Recombinant)

Anyone with an allergic reaction to the ingredients of GARDASIL 9 or GARDASIL® [Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent (Types 6, 11, 16, and 18) Vaccine, Recombinant], including those severely allergic to yeast, should not receive the vaccine. GARDASIL 9 was not studied in women who knew they were pregnant.

 

Fainting can happen after getting GARDASIL 9. Sometimes people who faint can fall and hurt themselves. For this reason, the health care professional may ask the person getting GARDASIL 9 to sit or lie down for 15 minutes after getting the vaccine. Some people who faint might shake or become stiff.

 

The side effects include pain, swelling, redness, itching, bruising, bleeding, and a lump where you got the shot; headache; fever; nausea; and dizziness.

 

Only a doctor or health care professional can decide if GARDASIL 9 is right for your child.

 

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.
Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

 

Please read the Patient Information for GARDASIL 9, and discuss it with your or your child’s doctor. The physician Prescribing Information also is available.

Anyone with an allergic reaction to the ingredients of GARDASIL 9 or GARDASIL® [Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent (Types 6, 11, 16, and 18) Vaccine,

Anyone with an allergic reaction to the ingredients of GARDASIL 9 or GARDASIL® [Human Papillomavirus Quadrivalent (Types 6, 11, 16, and 18) Vaccine, Recombinant], including those severely allergic to yeast, should not receive the vaccine. GARDASIL 9 was not studied in women who knew they were pregnant.

 

Fainting can happen after getting GARDASIL 9. Sometimes people who faint can fall and hurt themselves. For this reason, the health care professional may ask the person getting GARDASIL 9