Gardasil: Introducing the new human papillomavirus vaccine

Clin J Oncol Nurs. 2006 Oct;10(5):559-60. doi: 10.1188/06.CJON.559-560.

Abstract

In 2006, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first vaccine for prevention of cervical cancer based on the molecular biology of the disease. Gardasil (quadrivalent human papillomavirus [HPV] [types 6, 11, 16, and 18] recombinant vaccine, Merck & Co., Inc., Whitehouse Station, NJ) combats the common types of HPV responsible for cervical cancer precursor lesions. This article provides a simple overview of the (a) epidemiology of HPV, (b) HPV vaccine, (c) dosing and administration, and (d) nursing implications about this possibly life-saving vaccine.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Drug Approval
  • Female
  • Human Papillomavirus Recombinant Vaccine Quadrivalent, Types 6, 11, 16, 18
  • Human papillomavirus 11 / immunology
  • Human papillomavirus 16 / immunology
  • Human papillomavirus 18 / immunology
  • Human papillomavirus 6 / immunology
  • Humans
  • Immunization Schedule
  • Papillomavirus Infections / complications
  • Papillomavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Papillomavirus Infections / prevention & control*
  • Papillomavirus Infections / virology
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines* / adverse effects
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines* / immunology
  • United States / epidemiology
  • United States Food and Drug Administration
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / virology
  • Vaccination / methods*
  • Vaccination / nursing

Substances

  • Human Papillomavirus Recombinant Vaccine Quadrivalent, Types 6, 11, 16, 18
  • Papillomavirus Vaccines