What Is the Bivalent HPV Vaccine?

Among malignant tumors in women, cervical cancer ranks second only to breast cancer in incidence. Most cases of cervical cancer are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. So, what is the bivalent HPV vaccine?

What Is the Bivalent HPV Vaccine?

The bivalent HPV vaccine is a cervical cancer vaccine launched in 2016. It targets high-risk HPV types 16 and 18, and helps prevent cervical cancers caused by these two strains. Other HPV vaccines include the quadrivalent and nonavalent vaccines. The quadrivalent vaccine was introduced in 2018 and protects against four HPV types—6, 11, 16, and 18—thereby preventing cervical cancers caused by types 16 and 18, as well as genital warts caused by types 6 and 11.

The nonavalent HPV vaccine was launched in 2019 and provides protection against nine HPV types: 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58. All three HPV vaccines require three doses administered via intramuscular injection, with the preferred injection site being the deltoid muscle of the upper arm.

HPV vaccination in women offers protection against several gynecological conditions caused by HPV infection—including cervical cancer and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) associated with high-risk HPV types, as well as anogenital warts (a sexually transmitted infection) caused by low-risk HPV types. We hope this information has been helpful!