Divalent HPV Vaccine

Divalent HPV Vaccine Overview

Updated: December 9, 2013

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 comes in an injectable form (shot) that is injected either into muscle or just under the skin, in a series of three injections. The second dose is given one month after the first dose. The third dose is given six months after the first dose.

Common side effects of divalent HPV vaccine are pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site, feeling tired, and muscle aches.

How was your experience with Papillomavirus (human Types 16, 18)?

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Uses of Divalent HPV Vaccine

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.

This medication may be prescribed for other uses. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.

Divalent HPV Vaccine Drug Class

Divalent HPV Vaccine is part of the drug class:

Papillomavirus vaccines

Side Effects of Divalent HPV Vaccine

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.

Divalent HPV Vaccine Interactions

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 Precautions

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.

Divalent HPV Vaccine Food Interactions

Medicines can interact with certain foods. In some cases, this may be harmful and your doctor may advise you to avoid certain foods. In the case of divalent HPV vaccine there are no specific foods that you must exclude from your diet when receiving divalent HPV vaccine.

Inform MD

Tell your doctor about all your health conditions, including if you:

have had an allergic reaction after a previous dose of divalent HPV vaccine.
have an allergy to latex.
have a weakened immune system.
are taking any other medicine or have recently gotten any other vaccine.
have a fever over 100°F (37.8°C).
are pregnant or are planning to get pregnant during the time period of the 3 shots. Divalent HPV vaccine is not recommended for use in pregnant women.

Divalent HPV Vaccine and Pregnancy

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.

Divalent HPV Vaccine and Lactation

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.

Divalent HPV Vaccine Usage

Divalent HPV vaccine is given as an injection (shot) in a muscle in your arm. You will need a total of 3 shots.

Fainting may occur, sometimes resulting in falling with injury, especially in young females. Your healthcare provider may ask you to sit or lie down for 15 minutes after you get divalent HPV vaccine. Some people who faint may shake or become stiff. If this happens, it may require evaluation or treatment by your healthcare provider.

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

Divalent HPV Vaccine Dosage

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.

Divalent HPV Vaccine Overdose

Divalent HPV vaccine is usually administered by a healthcare provider in a medical setting making it unlikely for an overdose to occur. However, if overdose is suspected, seek emergency medical attention.

Forms of Medication

Divalent HPV vaccine is a suspension for intramuscular injection available in 0.5-mL single-dose vials and prefilled TIP-LOK® syringes.

Divalent HPV vaccine contains proteins of HPV types 16 and 18. The vaccine also contains 3-O-desacyl-4’-monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL), aluminum hydroxide, sodium chloride, and sodium dihydrogen phosphate dehydrate.

Divalent HPV vaccine contains no preservatives.