ABSTRACT

HPV vaccinations: A practical guide

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a non-capsulated virus of the Papilloma family, whose genetic material consists of double-stranded circular DNA. The genetic variability of the virus accounts for the existence of over 200 genotypes of HPV. Most of the virus types, classified into a low-cancer-risk group, cause skin warts as well as mild localized lesions.

Another group includes highly oncogenic types, mostly HPV16 and HPV18, which upon infection cause epithelial dysplasia and are associated with a high risk of effects promoting neoplastic lesions. Preventive vaccinations offer protection against infections with genital variations of the virus based on non-live vaccines containing highly purified recombinant protein that is a component of the virus, without any viral genetic material. There are three types of anti-HPV vaccines: 2-valent, 4-valent and 9-valent. All types of vaccines are approved for use in people older than 9 years and they are financed from public funds in some countries. The vaccination cycle includes 3 doses of a vaccine. There are no recommendations as to the administration of booster doses. Antigens contained in vaccines are strongly immunogenic: 95-100% of women and 99-100% of men are observed to produce post-vaccination antibodies. Anti-HPV vaccines are well tolerated and most of the undesirable effects reported during clinical studies included mild or moderate events.