Human papillomaviruses (HPV) infection can cause cervical, vaginal and
vulvar cancers in women and penile cancer in men. HPV can also cause oropharyngeal
and anal cancers and genital warts in both women and men. HPV types 16 and 18 are
the most carcinogenic types and are responsible for about 70% of the cervical cancers.
HPV types 31, 33, 35, 45, 52 and 58 account for an additional 20% of the cervical
malignancies worldwide. Currently, three vaccines are available on the market that
prevent HPV infection including bivalent Cervarix targeting HPV types 16 and 18,
quadrivalent Gardasil targeting HPV 16, 18, 6 and 11, and 9-valent Gardasil-9 targeting
HPV 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58 in addition to HPV 16, 18, 6 and 11. The present chapter
discusses the HPV vaccines and their immunogenicity, efficacy, safety and side effects.
Keywords: Efficacy, Human papillomavirus (HPV), Immunogenicity, Safety,
Side effects, Vaccine.
