Gardasil 9: efficacy of incomplete vaccination vs. full series

Posted by jacobm690 @jacobm690, Aug 7, 2023

How comparable is protection against HPV two weeks after the second dose of Gardasil 9 as compared to a two weeks after the third/final dose? Is it FAR less risky, with respect to HPV, to have sex after two doses than to do so unvaccinated (assuming no prior HPV exposure)? Is it crucial to wait to have sex until after the complete series, or is the purpose of the third dose to lock in longer-term immunity?

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celia16 | @celia16 | Jan 24 6:31am

I hope someone responds. I hope to get the vaccine soon and would like this info too.

irene5 Irene Estes | @irene5 | Jan 26 5:31am

The CDC has a very good write up that may answer your question. It is Chaper 11 HumanPapillomavirus in the 14th edition of their Pink Book published in August of 2021.

celia16 | @celia16 | Jan 26 6:00am

In reply to @irene5 "The CDC has a very good write up that may answer your question. It is Chaper..." + (show)

Irene5,
Thanks for that info. I did read it and imo, it offers no reason the vaccine would not be beneficial. Just the opposite. If I have not been infected by any strain of HPV thus far, getting the vaccine, would prevent me from getting infected and from passing it to someone else. I really don’t see the logic on giving up on all persons over the age of 45.

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