HPV Vaccine Safety

All vaccines used in the United States are required to go through years of extensive safety testing before they are licensed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Once in use, they are continually monitored for their safety and effectiveness.

There are two human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines, Gardasil and Cervarix. These vaccines are available to protect females against the two HPV types that cause most cervical cancers. The safety of Gardasil was studied in clinical trials with 29,000 females and males before it was licensed. The safety of Cervarix was studied in clinical trials with more than 30,000 females and males before it was licensed. 

Both HPV vaccines are currently being monitored for any adverse events, especially rare events not identified in the study trials.

Read more: Summaries, reports, and frequently asked questions about  HPV Vaccine Safety