We continue to receive questions through our Risk Management & Patient Safety Hotline regarding the vaccines for prevention of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) now that two vaccines are available: Quadrivalent vaccine HPV4 (Gardasil®) and the Bivalent vaccine HPV2  (Cervarix®). 

The following document by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will answer many questions your primary care, pediatric, or obstetrical practice may have about:

• which HPV vaccine to give,
• the differences between the vaccines,
• interrupted schedules,
• use in pregnancy, and
• appropriateness for young males. 

This is the CDC's most recent resolution on this subject and can be found at this link.

The CDC has also posted the "Summary of HPV Adverse Event Reports." That report is available here.

Also, there have been questions about obtaining informed consent for the vaccine. The California Medical Association (CMA) recommends that physicians should be cautious about giving either vaccine without parental consent.* While minors may consent to the diagnosis or treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, the vaccine is neither as it is seen as a preventative measure.

* California Physician Legal Handbook (CPLH).  Used with permission.

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Published comments of this information should not be considered legal advice applicable to a specific situation. Legal guidance for individual matters should be obtained from a retained attorney.