Does Gardasil Protect Against Genital Warts After The First Shot, Or Only After You’ve Received All Three? • 02.25.10
Gardasil protects against 4 strains of HPV: 2 strains that cause 70% of all cervical cancers, and 2 strains that cause 90% of all genital warts. There are hundreds of strains of HPV; they cause warts and cancers in various parts of the body — not just genitals. Some of the strains not covered by the vaccine still cause a small fraction of cases, which is why you will still need Pap smears. But the vaccine is by and large highly effective.
HOWEVER, you need all 3 shots to gain full protection against the 4 major HPV strains. One shot gives partial protection, but you need to complete the series for full, reliable protection.



