Let’s talk about the Gardasil vaccine, which protects against HPV (human papillomavirus), a sexually transmitted virus linked to cervical, vaginal, anal, and oral cancers in both men and women. HPV is incredibly small—it can even pass through the pores of a condom.
Gardasil is a glycoprotein vaccine, meaning it uses a small, non-live piece of the virus to stimulate your immune system. It’s not a live vaccine and not an mRNA vaccine. Typically, it’s recommended for preteens (ages 11–12) and can be given up to age 26 as a 2-dose series, with doses spaced 6 months apart.
There have been claims about Gardasil causing conditions like POTS (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome), but large-scale studies have found no evidence to support this. While I consider Gardasil an optional vaccine, as it doesn’t protect against immediately life-threatening conditions, I do recommend it as a proactive measure to reduce cancer risk.
