What Exactly Is Gardasil®?

What is Gardasil®?
Gardasil® is the brand name of a cervical cancer vaccine made by the US pharmaceutical company Merck & Co and distributed in the UK by Sanofi Pasteur MSD Ltd.

Officially called the "Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus (Types 6, 11, 16, 18) Recombinant Vaccine", Gardasil protects against HPV (human papilloma virus) infection by the types of the virus most likely to cause cervical cancer or genital warts.

Three thousand women in the UK are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, and it is the second most common cancer type in women aged below 35.

Gardasil® Was Tested By 12,000 Women In 13 Countries
As with all medical drugs and treatments, extensive clinical trials must be carried out before any new product becomes available. The Gardasil® cervical cancer vaccine was extensively tested with the help of over 12,000 women from 13 countries.

Of the women who received the vaccine, NONE of that vaccinated group developed early pre-cancer changes or cervical cancer in the two years after vaccination. There appear to be no major side effects either.

Prior to any new drug being prescribed in a country, it must be scrutinised and its test results verified, before any licence will be granted.

Gardasil® has been granted a licence by the EU for use in children and adolescents aged 9 to 15 years and in adult females aged 16 to 26 years for the prevention of cervical cancer caused by human papilloma virus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16 and 18.

The list of 25 countries where Gardasil® is licensed includes the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain. The vaccine is also licensed in the US, and the company are working on partnerships to take it to the developing world.

What HPV types does Gardasil® Protect Against?
Gardasil® protects those vaccinated from the HPV types 16 and 18, which cause 70% of cervical cancer cases, and types 6 and 11, which cause genital warts.

It is effective in protecting young people, both boys and girls aged 9 to 15, from the effects of the HPV types, and also sexually active women aged 16 to 26. The Gardasil® vaccine also protects against abnormal and precancerous cervical, vaginal and vulval lesions.

Who are Merck & Co?
Merck is a major pharmaceutical company founded in 1891. The company says it "Discovers, develops, manufactures and markets vaccines and medicines to address unmet medical needs."

Merck has a goal to increase access to its medicines, and publish unbiased medical information for free.

Who are Sanofi Pasteur MSD?
Sanofi Pasteur MSD was founded in 1994 as a joint venture with Merck & Co Inc. Sanofi Pasteur MSD remains the only European company to exclusively produce vaccines, and the company aims to "improve the acceptability, efficacy and tolerability of vaccination"

How Safe Is Gardasil®?
Gardasil® is a remarkably safe vaccination, but as with any medication, certain groups will not be suitable for vaccination. These include those suffering from acute febrile illness, or those allergic to any ingredients in the vaccine itself. If in doubt, simply ask either the GP or Mr Aldrich on your visit to the Cervical Vaccine Clinic.

Also, as pregnant-specific studies have not been carried out, The Clinic policy is to perform a pregnancy test on all sexually active patients before administration of the vaccine. If positive the vaccine will not be administered.

The vaccination itself may produce some redness and swelling at the injection site, and possibly some minimal bleeding and itching.

Was There A Little Controversy about Gardasil®?
The way all vaccines work, including Gardasil® is to build the body's immunity to specific infection before possible exposure. The fact that it is advised from the age of 9 raised some questions outside the medical community but nothing more.

Since HPV is contracted during sexual intercourse, the vaccination should be administered before young people become sexually active, between the ages of 9 and 15. It is also highly recommended for women between the ages of 16 and 26.

How can I get the Gardasil® Vaccine?
The Cervical Vaccine Clinic offers advice to all women concerned about cancer of the cervix, or indeed any cervical diseases. Click for full details of the Clinic´s Gardasil® vaccination programme