(December 4, 2008 - Insidermedicine) Gardasil, the new vaccine against the human papillomavirus (HPV), rarely causes allergic reactions, according to research published in the British Medical Journal.

Here is some information about Gardasil:

•    It protects against the types of HPV that most commonly cause genital warts and cervical cancer.

•    It is recommended that girls receive the vaccine before they become sexually active.

•    The vaccine can be given to girls as young as 9, although it is generally recommended for those 11 and older.

As part of a national vaccination program in Australia, over 380,000 girls aged 12-26 received Gardasil. Of these, 35 later experienced allergic reactions, including swelling, hives, rash, and anaphylaxis. Researchers from the Royal Children’s Hospital performed a clinical evaluation of 25 of these girls.

None of the 19 girls who underwent skin prick testing had a positive test result, although one girl did react when the vaccine was injected under her skin. Only one of 18 girls vaccinated again had an allergic reaction. The researchers concluded that only three of the 25 girls had a true allergy to the vaccine.

We had a chance to speak with Dr. Sharon Choo, the principal investigator of this study, who offered some further insight.

Today’s research indicates that true allergic reactions to the Gardasil vaccine are rare. Occasionally, an allergic reaction that occurs may simply be coincidence and actually bear no connection to the vaccine itself.

For Insidermedicine in Depth, I'm Dr. Susan Sharma.