Cervical cancer affects the tissues that line the cervix. It is often caused by one of several strains of human papillomavirus (HPV). There is one vaccine currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the vaccination against four types of HPV and cervical cancer. It is manufactured by Merck and sold under the brand name Gardasil, or human papillomavirus quadrivalent vaccine.
Active Ingredients
The cervical cancer vaccine is a recombinant injection, meaning the virus's DNA is synthetically replicated using a small amount of the live virus itself. The vaccine, when administered, does not contain any live particles of the HPV strains. Instead, several HPV proteins are used, including HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18, as indicated by Merck. These proteins are what introduce the virus to the body's immune system to help it develop antibodies. The antibodies will remember the HPV strains, should it infect the body again, and will be able to effectively fight off future infection.
Inactive Ingredients
Amorphous aluminum hydroxyphosphate sulfate, yeast protein and L-histidine make up some of the inactive ingredients of the cervical cancer vaccine. The National Institutes of Health explains that these are used to increase the immune response to the injected viral proteins.
Preservatives
Sodium chloride, commonly known as salt, is included in the vaccine to act as a preservative. Water also makes up the vaccine to allow the ingredients to be injected into the body. Polysorbate 80 is included in the vaccine to promote stability, similar to a preservative. It promotes shelf life of the vaccine until it has been administered. Sodium borate is another preservative-type ingredient in the vaccine that acts as a stabilizing agent to ensure that the acidity of the vaccine does not break down its own effectiveness.
