HPV Vaccination – Answering All Your Questions

Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is a group of viruses, more than 200 types (1). HPV vaccination is supported in eligible females from 9 to 45 years of age by FOGSI, CDC, WHO, and ACOG (2) (3) (4) (5).

There must be hundreds of questions bubbling in your mind around HPV vaccination. In this article, we’ll answer some of the most frequently asked questions about HPV vaccination.

Frequently Asked Questions Around HPV Vaccination

Let’s quickly dive into the commonly manifested questions about HPV vaccination.

1. Is the HPV vaccination safe for breastfeeding mothers?

HPV vaccines may be administered to lactating (breastfeeding) women.’ For more information, consult your doctor. (3) (4) (5).

2. How many months must postpartum women wait before getting the HPV vaccine?

Please consult your doctor to determine the right timing based on their health circumstances.

3. How many HPV vaccine types are available in India?

The quadrivalent HPV vaccine and nonavalent HPV Vaccines are available in India.

• The Quadrivalent HPV Vaccine protects against HPV strains 6, 11, 16, and 18. (6).
• The Nonavalent HPV Vaccine covers against the strains HPV 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58. (7).

4. How is the HPV vaccine administered?

To learn more about HPV vaccination doses, speak to your doctor.

5. Are there any side effects of the HPV vaccine in breastfeeding moms or breastfed babies?

HPV vaccines, like any other vaccine, can cause mild & temporary side effects. Some common side effects can include:

• Mild pain, swelling, or redness at the site of injection
• Dizziness
• Fever, mild
• Muscle or joint pain
• Headache
• Tiredness

Disclaimer: This message is for awareness only. Please consult your paediatrician for more details on HPV prevention. Issued in the public interest by MSD Pharmaceuticals.

HPV vaccine is not intended to be used for treatment and may not result in protection in all vaccine recipients. Vaccination does not eliminate the necessity for women to continue HPV relevant cancer screening recommended by HCP.

IN-GSL-01115 | 06/06/2025 – 29/11/2026

Also Read:

HPV and Cervical Cancer
HPV Vaccination for Girl Child 
Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in Children
Human Papillomavirus Infection (HPV) During Pregnancy

Our Editorial Policy

Parenting is a huge responsibility, for you as a caregiver, but also for us as a parenting content platform. We understand that and take our responsibility of creating credible content seriously. FirstCry Parenting articles are written and published only after extensive research using factually sound references to deliver quality content that is accurate, validated by experts, and completely reliable. To understand how we go about creating content that is credible, read our editorial policy here.

Sources References

1. PubMed Central – High-risk human papillomavirus clearance in pregnant women: trends for lower clearance during pregnancy with a catch-up postpartum

2. FOGSI GCPR – Screening and Treatment of Preinvasive Lesions of Cervix & HPV vaccination

3. CDC – Vaccinations

4. WHO – Human papillomavirus vaccines: WHO position paper, December 2022

5. ACOG – Maternal Immunization

6. ACOG – Human Papillomavirus Vaccination

7. National Cancer Institute – Recombinant Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Nonavalent Vaccine