Drug information

What is Gardasil 9?What is Gardasil 9?

What is Gardasil 9?

Gardasil 9 is a vaccine approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in people 9 through 45 years of age to protect against the following diseases caused by certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV):

  • Cervical cancer
  • Vulvar and vaginal cancers
  • Anal cancer
  • Certain head and neck cancers, such as throat and back of mouth cancers
  • Genital warts
  • Precancerous cervical, vaginal, vulvar, and anal lesions

HPV infection is a risk factor for the development of the diseases listed above. HPV infection can be an opportunistic infection (OI) of HIV. An OI is an infection that occurs more frequently or is more severe in people with weakened immune systems—such as people with HIV—than in people with healthy immune systems. To learn more about OIs, read the HIVinfo What is an Opportunistic Infection? fact sheet.

The Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Adults and Adolescents with HIV include recommendations on the use of Gardasil 9 in people living with HIV.

What should I tell my health care provider before receiving Gardasil 9?What should I tell my health care provider before receiving Gardasil 9?

What should I tell my health care provider before receiving Gardasil 9?

Before you or your child receives Gardasil 9, tell your health care provider if you or your child (the person receiving the vaccines):

  • Is allergic to any ingredients in Gardasil 9 (including yeast, amorphous aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate, or polysorbate 80) or any medicines.
  • Has ever had any reactions to a previous dose of Gardasil 9 or any other HPV vaccine.
  • Has a fever over 100°F (37.8°C).
  • Has or has had medical conditions, for example, immune problems such as HIV infection or cancer.
  • Has any health condition that may prevent you or your child from receiving medicine by injection.
  • Is pregnant or plans to become pregnant. Talk to your health care provider about the risks and benefits of receiving Gardasil 9 during pregnancy. The Guidelines for the Prevention and Treatment of Opportunistic Infections in Adults and Adolescents with HIV may include other recommendations on the use of Gardasil 9 during pregnancy. Please refer to these guidelines for additional information.
  • If you are breast/chestfeeding or plan to breast/chestfeed. For people with HIV in the United States, the Guideline recommends speaking with your health care provider to discuss options for feeding your baby. People with suppressed viral load have a less than 1% chance of transmitting HIV to their baby via their own milk.
  • Is taking or planning to take other prescription and nonprescription medicines, vitamins, nutritional supplements, and herbal products. Gardasil 9 may affect the way other medicines or products work, and other medicines or products may affect how Gardasil 9 works. Ask your health care provider if there are interactions between Gardasil 9 and the medicines you take.

Ask a health care provider about possible side effects from Gardasil 9. The health care provider will tell you what to do if the person receiving vaccines has side effects.

How is Gardasil 9 given?How is Gardasil 9 given?

How is Gardasil 9 given?

A health care provider gives the Gardasil 9 vaccine. The vaccine is usually given in the upper-arm or thigh muscle. In people with HIV, vaccination with Gardasil 9 is usually given as a series of three vaccine shots over a 6-month period. Your health care provider will decide how many shots you or your child will need and when to get them. Read any printed information that your health care provider gives you about HPV vaccines.

Where can I find more information about Gardasil 9?Where can I find more information about Gardasil 9?

Where can I find more information about Gardasil 9?

Last Reviewed: September 6, 2023