In April of 2016, Gardasil 9 was officially launched offering an enhanced version of the vaccine to protect against nine strains of HPV. In addition to the four Human Papillomavirus (HPV) types in the original Gardasil HPV Vaccine (6, 11, 16, and 18), the new Gardasil 9 covers 5 more HPV types, 31, 33, 45, 52 & 58. These 9 HPV types also cause premalignant lesions and cancers affecting the cervix, vulva and anus, and genital warts (Condyloma acuminata).
Gardasil 9 has the potential to prevent approximately 80-90% of cervical, vulvar, vaginal and anal cancers while Gardasil 4 has 50-75%.