The vaccine causes the body to produce antibodies that prevent infection with the Human Papillomavirus. It does not contain live virus and cannot cause the disease. It contains virus-like particles that induce a protective immune response.
Several HPV vaccines are authorized internationally, with proven efficacy in preventing infection with HPV strains with high oncogenic potential, involved in the majority of cervical cancer cases:
- Bivalent (2vHPV) – Cervarix, protects against types 16 and 18;
- Tetravalent (4vHPV) – Gardasil/Silgard, protects against types 6, 11, 16 and 18;
- Nonavalent (9vHPV) – Gardasil 9, protects against types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58.
All of these vaccines are recommended by the World Health Organization and widely used in national immunization programs in many countries.
The Gardasil-4 vaccine (tetravalent/4vHPV) is available in the Republic of Moldova, which covers types 6, 11, 16 and 18 and is prequalified by the World Health Organization.
The vaccine provides protection against infection with high-risk oncogenic HPV strains, which are most commonly responsible for cervical cancer and genital warts:
- Types 16 and 18 – responsible for approximately 70% of cervical cancer cases;
- Types 6 and 11 – associated with the appearance of genital warts.