Skip to main content
. 2012 Jun;5(6):25–36.

TABLE 3.

Quadrivalent versus bivalent human papillomavirus recombinant vaccine

QUADRIVALENT HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS RECOMBINANT VACCINE (GARDASIL, MERCK & CO.)68 BIVALENT HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS RECOMBINANT VACCINE (CERVARIX, GLAXOSMITHKLINE)73
Year of FDA approval 2006 for females, 2009 for males 2009 for females
Vaccination for HPV types

  • 6 and 11 (genital wart formation)

  • 16 and 18 (oncogenic)

 16 and 18 (oncogenic)
Sex/age indications

  • Females/9-26 years old

  • Males/9-26 years old

 Females/9-years old
Clinical prevention

  • Cervical, vulvar, and vaginal cancers

  • CIN grade 1 or worse

  • Cervical adenocarcinoma

  • Cervical adenocarcinoma in situ

  • Genital warts

  • Cervical cancer

  • CIN grade 1 or worse

  • Cervical adenocarcinoma in situ
Dosing regimen Three separate intramuscular injections (baseline, two months, six months) Three separate intramuscular injections (baseline, one month, six months)
Adverse reactions

  • Mild injection site reactions (pain, swelling, erythema, pruritis)

  • Headache

  • Gastroenteritis

  • Nasopharyngitis

  • Dizziness

  • Diarrhea

  • Mild injection site reactions (pain, swelling, erythema, pruritis)

  • Fatigue

  • Headache

  • Myalgia

  • Gastroenteritis

  • Arthrlagia
Pregnancy category B B
Comments 99% effective in preventing genital wart formation in patients naive to HPV infection 93% effective in preventing HPV 16 or 18-related CIN grade 2 or worse or adenocarcinoma in situ

Pregnancy Category B=It is not known whether this vaccine can cause fetal harm when administered to a pregnant woman or if it can affect reproductive capacity. CIN: cervical intraepithelial neoplasia