There are three HPV vaccines available in Italy:
- The bivalent vaccine is indicated for females age 9 and up for the prevention of precancerous genital lesions (of the uterine cervix, vulva and vagina) and uterine cervical cancer. It is effective against two types of HPV, 16 and 18, which are responsible for over 70% of cases of cervical cancer;
- The quadrivalent vaccine (protection against HPV strains 16, 18, 6 and 11) is indicated for both sexes age 9 and up for the prevention of precancerous genital lesions (of the cervix, vulva and vagina ), precancerous anal lesions, cervical cancers, anal cancers and genital condylomas.
- The nonavalent vaccine, which is the most recent, protects against nine types of HPV: 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58. This vaccine guarantees the highest coverage. In addition to providing protection against cervical cancer, it also protects against other HPV-related cancers. It protects against precancerous lesions and tumors that affect the cervix, vulva, vagina, anus, penis and oropharynx, and also protects against genital condylomas. It is the only one to offer protection against HPV-related vulvar and vaginal infections.
The nonavalent vaccine is particularly effective in males, adult women and women already treated for HPV-related precancerous lesions, since it extends immunity against nearly all the papillomaviruses involved.
