What is in the Gardasil HPV vaccine and how does it work?
Gardasil Human Papilloma Virus vaccine is made by incorporating only the outer coat of the HPV viruses (types 6, 11, 16, 18) known as the virus like particles. These particles are capable of inducing an immune response very similar to a natural infection of HPV virus. The outer coat particles are not capable of causing infections and inducing cell changes leading to cancer or pre-cancer of the cervix. The immunity thus induced by the outer coat HPV particles prevents the natural infection by a complete virus. Apart from the virus particles, there is a solution of aluminium compound to stabilise the vaccine. There is no mercury or thimerosal found in some other unrelated vaccines. The Cervarix HPV vaccine contains particles capable inducing immunity against strains 16 & 18 only. However it has a carrier molecule that is thought to provide longer lasting immunity.
