JAMA: 2009-08-19, Vol. 302, No. 7, Author in the Room™ Audio Interview

Interview with John Iskander, MD, author of Postlicensure Safety Surveillance for Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus Recombinant Vaccine. Summary Points: 1. Since quadrivalent HPV vaccine was licensed in June 2006, more than 23 million doses have been administered nationally. 2. There were a total of 12,424 reports to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) of adverse events following HPV vaccination through December 2008. The vast majority (94%) of adverse events reported to VAERS after receiving this vaccine have not been considered serious. The findings of this first published post-licensure safety review were generally not different from what is seen in safety reviews of other vaccines recommended for 9 to 26 year olds. 3. The most common events reported were syncope, local reactions at the site of immunization (pain and redness), dizziness, nausea, and headache.