Who Should Get the HPV Vaccine?

Written by: Lukas Harnisch-Weidauer
Medically Reviewed By: Susana M. Campos, MD, MPH

The human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination is an extraordinarily effective measure for preventing HPV and the cancers that are caused by the virus. 

Since its introduction in 2006, infections with HPV types that cause most HPV cancers and genital warts have dropped 88 percent among teen girls. Among young adult women, infections have dropped 81 percent. And among vaccinated women, the percentage of cervical precancers caused by the HPV types most often linked to cervical cancer has dropped by 40 percent. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that all children receive an HPV vaccine at age 11 or 12. This is because the vaccine is most effective when given prior to an exposure to the sexually transmitted infection. If not vaccinated by that age, the CDC still recommends pursuing vaccination up until the age of 26. 

The human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination is an extraordinarily effective measure for preventing HPV and the cancers that are caused by the virus. 
The human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccination is an extraordinarily effective measure for preventing HPV and the cancers that are caused by the virus. 

What is the human papilloma virus (HPV)? 

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. About 42.5 million Americans have HPV and more than 13 million new infections occur annually. There may be no symptoms or someone with HPV might develop warts. 

Some strains of the virus cause cancer. Every year, about 36,000 new cancer diagnoses are connected to HPV. 

Which types of cancer can be caused by HPV? 

Infection with HPV can lead to the development of cervical cancer, as well as vulvar, vaginal, penile, anal, and oropharyngeal cancer, which occurs in the middle part of the throat. Vaccination against HPV lowers the risk of these cancers. 

Who should get the HPV vaccine? 

Parents and kids should consult their pediatrician or primary care physician with specific questions about the HPV vaccine. The CDC recommends young people be vaccinated at age 11 or 12, to protect them from the virus prior to their first exposure. 

Children as young as 9 and young people up to the age of 26 can also receive the vaccine. Teenagers aged 9 to 14 receive two doses of the HPV vaccine over six to 12 months. Teens and young adults who initiate vaccination at age 15 through 26 should receive three doses over six months. 

Should I get vaccinated for HPV if I haven’t and am older than 26? 

For adults aged 27 through 45 years, the public health benefit of HPV vaccination is minimal, as most sexually active adults have already been exposed to HPV — although not necessarily all the HPV types targeted by vaccination. 

Some organizations, such as the American Cancer Society, don’t recommend vaccination against HPV after age 26 because it hasn’t shown benefit past that age, mainly because of the likelihood of exposure by that age. The CDC recommends shared clinical decision making between patients and their providers because some people who are not adequately vaccinated might benefit. 

“Whether the vaccine works in older patients has not been tested on a large scale so far,” says Robert Haddad, MD, disease center leader of Dana-Farber’s Head and Neck Oncology Program, who stresses the importance of vaccinating early before any exposure to HPV. “The best age to vaccinate is 11 or 12, which is what I tell my patients with young kids.” 

Is the HPV vaccine safe? 

The vaccine is safe. It has been administered since 2006 more than 135 million times. Robust data from clinical trials and consensus from more than 160 studies have continuously bolstered its safety. 

Some side effects from the HPV vaccine are expected, including minimal pain and swelling at the site of injection. It is typical for administrators to monitor patients for 15 minutes after a vaccine for an allergic reaction (which are very rare). 

About the Medical Reviewer

Susana M. Campos, MD, MPH

Dr. Campos received her MD from Georgetown University in 1992, and then completed residency training at Georgetown Medical Center. Between 1995 and 1998, she completed a fellowship in hematology-oncology at Brigham and Women's Hospital, in Boston, and in 2000 received her MPH from Harvard Medical School. She serves on committees for the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the Gynecological Oncology Group, and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. She is board-certified in internal medicine, oncology, and hematology.

2 thoughts on “Who Should Get the HPV Vaccine?”

  1. Can you have HPV head/neck cancer more than once? In other words: treated successfully ten years ago (surgery of tonsil/neck lymph nodes; treatment- chemo and radiation) and cancer free.
    Simply wondering if a new case of HPV of the head/neck is probable? (Wonder how HPV is ‘eliminated’ by some and not others.)
    Thx very much.

    • Hi there,

      Thank you for reading. The answer below is from Glenn Hanna, MD, director of Dana-Farber’s Center for Salivary and Rare Head and Neck Cancers:

      “In theory, if someone has multiple high-risk subtypes of HPV (like exposure to type 16 and later 31) they could develop two separate primary oropharyngeal cancers… but this would be exceptionally rare and not something I’ve encountered in practice. I do sometimes have patients who are treated for HPV+ head and neck cancer who later elect to pursue vaccination after treatment ends. We don’t know if this is helpful but in theory it may protect against a future new event and/or provide some therapeutic benefit long-term — both hypothetical.”

      We hope this is helpful.

      Wishing you all the best,
      DFCI

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