The HPV vaccine does not protect against other sexually transmitted diseases (e.g., chlamydia, herpes, hepatitis, trichomoniasis, gonorrhea, syphilis, [[HIV]], [[AIDS]], etc.). The vaccine is not recommended for use in pregnant women or girls.{{fact}}
The long-term consequences of the HPV vaccine are not known and there have not been any long-term studies. Children in the 9-year-old age group have been monitored for only 18 months, and there have been no studies on of the carcinogenic long-term risk or the general toxicity of the vaccine itself. Between July 2006 and January 2007, there were 82 reports of adverse events filed with the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System ([[VAERS]]) following the receipt of the vaccine.
A study published February 28, 2007 in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) disclosed that only about 3% of all women are ever infected in their lifetime by the particular types of HPV (Types 6, 11, 16, 18) targeted by the vaccine. If generalized to the American female population at large, this would be approximately 5 million women. If generalized to the highest-risk age groups of women, the number of affected American women is probably closer to 2 million.
Merck manufactures the HPV vaccine and sells it for $360 ($120 per shot in a three-shot series). Its package insert explains the limitations of the vaccine and describes its testing for safety and efficacy.<ref>http://www.merck.com/product/usa/pi_circulars/g/gardasil/gardasil_pi.pdf</ref>
The cost for buying and administering the three-dose vaccine is about $500 per child. Accordingly, the cost of vaccinating 100 children will be about $50,000, but only 3 out of that 100 will ever be exposed to the HPV types targeted by the vaccine. The average age of diagnosis of cervical cancer is 48 years old. Accordingly, the cost is $15,000 to $50,000 per child to possibly protect her against a cancer over 30 years in the future. There is not yet a clear plan in place for funding this vaccine. Alternative means of protection against this cervical cancer include the inexpensive abstinence (most effective, but only if sexual partner is also abstinent), condoms (second most effective), and early detection via pap smear and abstinence(effective if done regularly, but only ''detects'' infection or precancerous changes. It does not ''prevent'' infection, but can prevent progression from infection to cancer).{{fact}}
The [[Association of American Physicians and Surgeons]], the Texas Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics do not support making this vaccine mandatory.