Final answer:
Gardasil is a vaccine used to prevent cancers and genital warts caused by HPV. It is recommended for males and females aged 9 to 26 and is given in multiple doses, with side effects including pain at the injection site and headaches. It should not be used by individuals with severe allergies to vaccine components or those who are pregnant.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer to the question is (b) Gardasil is a vaccine for the prevention of certain cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). Gardasil is used in both males and females between the ages of 9 and 26 to protect against HPV strains that have a high risk of causing cervical cancer, genital warts, and other HPV-related diseases. The vaccine includes types 6, 11, 16, and 18, which are associated with the majority of genital wart infections and cervical cancers. There is also a Gardasil 9 vaccine that adds protection against five more high-risk types. It is important to receive the vaccine before potential exposure to HPV through sexual activity.
While Gardasil is generally safe, it can have side effects, which may include pain at the injection site, headache, fever, and dizziness. Severe allergic reactions are rare. The vaccine is typically not given to individuals who have had a life-threatening allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine or to those who are pregnant.
Gardasil is administered through a series of injections. The specific dosing regimen depends on the age of the recipient. For individuals 9 through 14 years of age, two doses are given 6 to 12 months apart. For those 15 through 26 years of age, three doses are recommended, with the second dose given two months after the first and the third dose given four months after the second dose.
Contraindications for Gardasil include hypersensitivity to the active substances or to any of the excipients of the vaccine, and it should not be administered to individuals who have had a life-threatening allergic reaction to a previous dose of Gardasil.