CDC Issues Final Guidelines on Gardasil

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has adopted the recommendation of its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices for the use of Merck's Gardasil quadrivalent human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine in girls and women ages 11 to 26, Merck announced. The vaccination guidelines finalize the provisional recommendations issued by the committee in June 2006 when the vaccine was approved by the FDA.

Gardasil is indicated to help prevent cervical cancer, precancerous and low-grade cervical lesions, vulvar and vaginal precancers and genital warts caused by human papillomavirus types 6, 11, 16 and 18.

According to the guidelines, the recommended age for routine vaccination of females is 11 to 12, but the vaccine can be administered to girls as young as 9. In addition, catch-up vaccination is recommended for females ages 13 to 26 who have not been previously vaccinated.

Last November Merck announced that the CDC added Gardasil to its Vaccines for Children Program.