Side effects caused by the vaccine
Thousands of girls and women of different ages took part in the clinical trials for the HPV vaccines [1]. These trials found that the vaccine offers 99% protection against infection with the high-risk types of HPV in girls who haven’t previously been infected with the virus. Side effects from both vaccines are usually mild. Side effects include:
- Very common side effects (side effects which may occur in more than 1 per 10 doses of vaccine) reported by girls who have received the vaccine are:
- pain or discomfort at the injection site
- redness or swelling at the injection site
- headache
- aching muscles, muscle tenderness or weakness (not caused by exercise)
- tiredness
- Common (side effects which may occur in less than 1 per 10 but more than 1 per 100 doses of vaccine):
- gastrointestinal symptoms including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and abdominal pain
- itching, red skin rash, hives (urticaria)
- joint pain
- fever (≥ 38°C)
- Uncommon (side effects which may occur in less than 1 per 100 but more than 1 per 1,000 doses of vaccine):
- upper respiratory tract infection (infection of the nose, throat or trachea)
- dizziness
- other injection site reactions such as hard lump, tingling or numbness.
References
- Schiller JT et al. (2008) An update of prophylactic human papillomavirus L1 virus-like particle vaccine clinical trial results. Vaccine, 26 (10), K53-61.
Last updated: 17/03/2011
