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HPV Vaccine for Children

20 January 2025

About the Human Papillomavirus

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of viruses that contains over 100 strains. These viruses are the main risk factor for cervical cancer. Moreover, they cause other cancer illnesses among men and women, including anal cancer, mouth and throat cancer, vaginal and vulvar cancer, and penile cancer. This virus may also cause genital, skin, and vocal cord warts.

The HPV vaccine

The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine prevents future contraction of the virus strains contained in the vaccine. It is recommended to get vaccinated at a young age because the vaccine’s efficacy is higher among young people who have not yet been exposed to the virus.

The vaccine is administered in the 8th grade in two doses, given at an interval of six months, by injection into the arm. In some cases, the first dose will be administered in 7th grade.

If the vaccine against the papilloma virus is administered after the age of 15 years old, it will be given in 3 doses: 2 doses with a 1-2 month interval, and the third dose will be administered six months after the first dose.

A small number of people who received the vaccine may experience some side effects after vaccination, but most of them are usually mild and resolve on their own. These include redness, swelling, and soreness at the injection site. Less often, within 15 days after vaccination, there may be fever, headaches, muscle pain, joint pain, stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, general inconvenience, and weakness.

Immunization schedule

  • Eighth Grade
Full Schedule

The disease

The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a group of viruses that contains over 100 strains. These strains are among the most common in the world. They are transmitted through sexual intercourse or direct physical contact and are considered the main risk for cervical cancer. Every year, around 200 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed in Israel, and there are around 80 deaths due to this disease.

Moreover, these viruses can cause cancer among men and women, including anal cancer, mouth and throat cancer, vaginal and vulvar cancer, and penile cancer, as well as genital, skin, and vocal cord warts.

The vaccine

The name of the vaccine is Gardasil-9. It is a part of the immunization schedule. It protects against nine strains of papillomavirus and is administered to boys and girls from the age of 9 to 26 years old.

It is essential for both boys and girls to prevent virus contagion, which may cause cancer and other phenomena, such as warts. In girls, the vaccine reduces the future risk of cervical invasive treatments, which may damage their fertility. In boys, the vaccine significantly reduces the risk of mouth and throat cancer, penal cancer, penal skin cancer, and anal cancer, as well as lesions and precancerous conditions.

Vaccination schedule: the vaccine is administered in the 8th grade in two doses, given at an interval of six months. In some cases, the first dose will be administered in 7th grade.

If the vaccine against the papilloma virus is administered after the age of 15 years, it will be given in 3 doses: 2 doses with a 1-2 month interval, and the third dose will be administered six months after the first dose.

The vaccine is administered during school-age years, as its maximum efficacy is achieved at a young age, prior to exposure to the virus. The combination of a young age and a strong immune system before exposure to the papillomavirus can decrease the risk of contracting the strains included in the vaccine by 97%. The older the age at which the vaccine is administered, the less protection it provides.

It is important to know that the vaccine does not cure and does not heal illnesses (like cancer or warts) caused by contraction of the virus before the vaccination, but only prevent future contraction of the strains included in the vaccine.

Vaccine composition Vaccine administration

The virus envelope, without the genetic material

 By injection to the arm

NOTE

NOTE

Vaccines prevent future infections with the strains included in the vaccine.
They do not treat or cure health conditions (such as cancer or warts) caused by a virus contracted before vaccination.

Vaccine efficacy

Studies have shown that women who receive the vaccine since 2006 (then it was approved for marketing) still have protecting antigens. We will learn over time how long the antigens remain active and whether the vaccine provides lifelong protection.

Vaccine safety

More than 270 million doses of the vaccine against papillomavirus have been administered around the world. In Israel, around a million doses have been administered and no abnormal morbidity related to the vaccine has been identified.

Studies have demonstrated that the papillomavirus vaccine is safe and does not cause severe side effects. The vaccine contains only the empty shell of the virus, devoid of genetic material, making it impossible to contract the virus through vaccination.

Formerly, a possible link between the vaccine and fainting due to decreased blood pressure or chronic pain was studied. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the European Medicines Agency ruled out any causal link between the vaccine and these phenomena.

Completion of vaccination

The Ministry of Health recommends boys and girls who were not vaccinated in school to complete the vaccination.

Note that for people over the age of 18, the vaccination is free of charge.

All the information on routine vaccination completion

Possible side effects and how to relieve them

A small portion of individuals may experience side effects after vaccination, but these are usually mild and resolve on their own:

  • Redness, pain and swelling at the injection site
  • General symptoms
  • Redness and pain at the injection site and local swelling: you can apply a clean cloth soaked in lukewarm water to the injection site and avoid massaging the area.
  • General symptoms: less often, within 15 days of vaccination, there may be fever, headaches, dizziness, muscle ache, joint ache, nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, general inconvenience, and weakness. You can administer a fever reducer or an analgesic.

Further information on vaccine side effects

When to seek medical attention at an HMO or emergency medical center after the vaccination

  • If your child appears apathetic.
  • If your child has a fever that lasts beyond 24-48 hours.
  • If there is any other symptom that makes you concerned.

If your child experiences symptoms after getting vaccinated in school - please inform the school nurse.

Further information on the vaccine

For any questions about the vaccine, contact your family doctor, the school nurse, or a nurse at the Ministry of Health hotline (Kol Habriut) at *5400.

Vaccine for papillomavirus

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CgxQqW1kes&t=38s

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