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• you may have heard: Only women can get human papillomavirus (HPV).
• but did you know: Both men and women can get HPV, and pass it on without even realizing it. HPV will affect an estimated 75% to 80% of males and females in their lifetime. For most, HPV clears on its own. But, for others, certain HPV diseases—such as cervical, vaginal, and vulvar cancers and genital warts—can develop. There is no way to predict who will or won't clear the virus.

• you may have heard: GARDASIL is only for girls and young women ages 9 to 26.
• but did you know: GARDASIL was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in boys and young men ages 9 to 26 to help protect against 90% of genital warts cases. Read more

But, it is important to remember that GARDASIL may not fully protect everyone, nor will it protect against diseases caused by other HPV types or against diseases not caused by HPV. GARDASIL does not prevent all types of cervical cancer, so it’s important for women to continue routine cervical cancer screenings. Also, keep in mind that GARDASIL does not treat cancer or genital warts.

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• you may have heard: Questions about the safety of GARDASIL.
• but did you know: The common side effects include pain, swelling, itching, bruising, and redness at the injection site, headache, fever, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and fainting. Read more

Fainting can happen after getting GARDASIL. Sometimes people who faint can fall and hurt themselves. For this reason, your health care professional may ask you to sit or lie down for 15 minutes after you get GARDASIL. Some people who faint might shake or become stiff. This may require evaluation or treatment by your health care professional.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the FDA have reviewed all the safety information available to them. Based on data available to them as of May 2009, the CDC and FDA determined that GARDASIL continues to be safe and effective, and its benefits continue to outweigh its risks. In August 2009, the CDC reaffirmed its continued recommendation for vaccination with GARDASIL in females. In October 2009, the FDA approved the use of GARDASIL in boys and young men ages 9 to 26 to protect against 90% of genital warts cases.

Read more Important Safety Information.

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• you may have heard: GARDASIL only protects against 4 types of HPV, so it can't be that effective.
• but did you know: GARDASIL helps protect against 4 types of HPV, including 2 types that cause about 75% of cervical cancer cases in women and 2 more types that cause 90% of genital warts cases in men and women. Read more

There are more than 30 genital HPV types and about 6 million new cases of genital HPV in the United States each year. While GARDASIL doesn't protect against all types of HPV, it offers protection against the 4 HPV types that cause the most HPV-related diseases, such as cervical cancer and genital warts. Each day in the United States, 30 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer (about 11,000 women per year) and it is estimated that each minute there is a new case of genital warts in men and women.

GARDASIL may not fully protect everyone, nor will it protect against diseases caused by other HPV types or against diseases not caused by HPV. GARDASIL does not prevent all types of cervical cancer, so it’s important for women to continue routine cervical cancer screenings.

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• you may have heard: If you eat right and have a healthy immune system, your body will always fight off HPV infection on its own.
• but did you know: There are more than 30 types of genital HPV, and most will clear on their own, but for some people who don't clear certain types of the virus, cervical cancer can develop. Other types can cause genital warts. And there's no way to predict who will or won't clear the virus. Read more

Every day, 30 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer (about 11,000 women per year), and it is estimated that each minute there is a new case of genital warts in men and women. Many people who have HPV don’t even know it, because the virus often has no signs or symptoms. That means you can get the virus or pass it on to your partner without knowing it.

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• you may have heard: GARDASIL isn't needed, because Pap tests can detect precancerous signs before they progress to cancer.
• but did you know: Even with the use of Pap tests, approximately 30 women a day in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer (about 11,000 women per year). Read more

Thanks to cervical cancer screening, cervical cancer is one of the most preventable cancers. But, because screening may not detect all abnormalities, it doesn't always ensure early detection of disease. Some women with cervical precancer or even cancer can have normal Pap tests, due to false negatives (sampling or detection error). Also, one type of cervical cancer (cervical adenocarcinoma) is difficult to detect through Pap tests. Another concern is that some women do not get screened regularly.

Pap tests look for abnormal cervical cells in the lining of the cervix before they have a chance to become precancers and then cervical cancer. Most often this change takes a number of years. But in rare cases it can happen within a year.

GARDASIL helps protect against about 75% of cervical cancer cases. But, GARDASIL may not fully protect everyone, and does not prevent all types of cervical cancer, so it's important to continue routine cervical cancer screenings.

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• you may have heard: GARDASIL is not available at affordable pricing.
• but did you know: Merck is committed to providing vaccines to people who are uninsured and can't afford vaccines. Read more

Merck has created a vaccine patient assistance program for its line of vaccines for use in adults, including GARDASIL. Through this program, Merck provides free vaccines to adults who are 19 and older who are uninsured or unable to afford vaccines.

Additional information regarding the Merck Vaccine Patient Assistance Program can be found at http://www.merck.com/merckhelps/vaccines/home.html.

GARDASIL is also part of the Vaccines for Children Program, a federal program that helps to provide free vaccines to children and adolescents 18 years and younger who are either Medicaid eligible, American Indian or Alaskan Native, or uninsured, or whose health insurance does not cover shots.

Additional information regarding the Vaccines for Children Program can be found at www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfcBy clicking on this link, you will be leaving this siteThis link will take you to a site outside of Merck & Co., Inc. Merck does not review or control the content of any non-Merck site. Merck does not endorse and is not responsible for the accuracy, content, practices, or standards of any non-Merck site.
Proceed.

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• you may have heard: Girls and boys ages 11 and 12 years old are too young to be vaccinated with GARDASIL.
• but did you know: Like other vaccines, GARDASIL works to help prevent illness. Read more

GARDASIL works when given before there is any contact with the relevant HPV types. Girls and boys as young as 9 can get vaccinated.

For more information on GARDASIL, talk to your doctor or health care professional.

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• you may have heard: GARDASIL works only if females or males are vaccinated before becoming sexually active.
• but did you know: GARDASIL works when given before there is any contact with the relevant HPV types. Read more

People who are already sexually active may still benefit from GARDASIL because, even if they have been exposed to HPV, they may not have been exposed to all the types of the virus covered by the vaccine. GARDASIL could still help protect men and women against the relevant HPV types to which they haven’t been exposed.

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INFORMATION ABOUT GARDASIL

GARDASIL is the only human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine that helps protect against 4 types of HPV. In girls and young women ages 9 to 26, GARDASIL helps protect against 2 types of HPV that cause about 75% of cervical cancer cases, and 2 more types that cause 90% of genital warts cases. In boys and young men ages 9 to 26, GARDASIL helps protect against 90% of genital warts cases.

GARDASIL also helps protect girls and young women ages 9 to 26 against 70% of vaginal cancer cases and up to 50% of vulvar cancer cases.

GARDASIL may not fully protect everyone, nor will it protect against diseases caused by other HPV types or against diseases not caused by HPV. GARDASIL does not prevent all types of cervical cancer, so it’s important for women to continue routine cervical cancer screenings. GARDASIL does not treat cancer or genital warts. GARDASIL is given as 3 injections over 6 months.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION

Anyone who is allergic to the ingredients of GARDASIL, including those severely allergic to yeast, should not receive the vaccine. GARDASIL is not for women who are pregnant.

The side effects include pain, swelling, itching, bruising, and redness at the injection site, headache, fever, nausea, dizziness, vomiting, and fainting. Fainting can happen after getting GARDASIL. Sometimes people who faint can fall and hurt themselves. For this reason, your health care professional may ask you to sit or lie down for 15 minutes after you get GARDASIL. Some people who faint might shake or become stiff. This may require evaluation or treatment by your health care professional.

Only a doctor or health care professional can decide if GARDASIL is right for you or your child.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch By clicking on this link, you will be leaving this siteThis link will take you to a site outside of Merck & Co., Inc. Merck does not review or control the content of any non-Merck site. Merck does not endorse and is not responsible for the accuracy, content, practices, or standards of any non-Merck site.
Proceed or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Read the Patient Product Information or the Prescribing Information for GARDASIL.