The HPV Vaccine Prevents Cancer
Along with screening and early detection, the HPV vaccine is another important tool to prevent cervical cancer.
HPV vaccination helps prevent infection from several high-risk HPV types that can lead to cervical cancer as well as low-risk types that cause genital warts. On addition to preventing cervical cancer, the vaccine has been approved for the prevention of other types of HPV-related cancers:
- anal
- vulvar
- vaginal
- head and neck
The Real World Impact of HPV Vaccination
There is evidence from around the world that vaccination is having an impact.
- In the U.S., rates of infection with strains of HPV covered by the vaccines have dropped significantly since the vaccine was introduced in 2006. Among teen girls, infections with HPV types that cause most HPV cancers and genital warts have dropped 88 percent. Among young adult women, infections with HPV types that cause most HPV cancers and genital warts have dropped 81 percent.
- A new study in Scotland found no cases of invasive cervical cancer in young women who had gotten the HPV vaccine by the time they were 14. The study also found that women vaccinated between ages 14 and 22 had lower rates of cervical cancer than unvaccinated women.
- Australia is on track to meet the goals of the WHO’s Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy and become the first country in the world to eliminate cervical cancer. On 2023, 85.9% of girls and 83.4% of boys in Australia had received at least one dose of HPV vaccine in 2023. Research from Cancer Council NSW has shown that if vaccination and screening coverage are maintained at their current rates, cervical cancer is likely to be eliminated as a public health issue in Australia by 2035.
HPV Vaccination Recommendations
Starting Early Means Fewer Doses and Better Protection
- The vaccine is recommended for all young people at age 11 or 12 regardless of sex assigned at birth or gender, although vaccination can begin as early as age 9. Because the vaccine produces a stronger immune response when taken during the preteen years, only two doses are the vaccine are required through age 14.
Starting at Age 15, Three Doses Are Required
- Catch-up vaccinations are recommended up to age 26. For those that get a first dose between age 15 and 26, three doses are required. Anyone in that age group who did not have the vaccine should get one. While people in this age group may have had sex and been exposed to HPV, the vaccine is still recommended as it can prevent infection with other types of HPV.
The HPV Vaccine is Approved Up to Age 45
- The vaccine is approved for use in adults ages 27-45, but is not recommended for everyone in this age group. This is because the vaccine is less likely to provide much benefit at this age when most adults have been sexually active and likely exposed to HPV. The ACIP recommends “shared decision making” for this age group, meaning individuals should make decision with their providers based on their own history and risk factors.
The most important message is that early vaccination is best. We can eliminate cervical cancer with widespread early vaccination.
Vaccine Schedule
- Between ages 9 and 14, only two doses are needed, with the second dose given 6-12 months following the first.
- For those that start the series at age 15 or older, three doses are needed. The second dose is given two months after the first and the third is given six months after the first.
Who Should Not Be Vaccinated
- A person who has had a severe allergic reaction to any of the components of the HPV vaccine
- A person who had an allergic reaction to a previous dose of the vaccine
- Pregnant people (vaccination is not recommended during pregnancy)
Is the HPV vaccine safe?
Over 135 million doses of the HPV vaccine have been distributed in the U.S. since the vaccine was licensed and over 270 million have been distributed worldwide. In both clinical trials before the vaccine was approved by the FDA and in use, the vaccine has proven to be safe and well tolerated.
As with any vaccine or medication, there is always the possibility of side effects. There have been some mild to moderate reactions reported from people who have received the vaccines. The most common side effects associated with the HPV vaccine are:
- Pain, redness, and swelling around the injection site. In clinical trials, local reactions such as pain, redness, or swelling were reported by anywhere from 20% to 90% of recipients.
- Fever. In clinical trials, 10% to 13% of recipients reported fever, but a similar proportion of trial participants who received a placebo also reported an elevated temperature.
- Headache, fatigue, and nausea. As with fever, these symptoms were reported in equal measure among both HPV vaccine and placebo recipients.
Some people have experienced fainting as well. For this reason, patients are typically observed for about 15 minutes after each dose of the vaccine. Fainting has also been reported with two other vaccines given to adolescents—meningococcal and TdaP. It isn’t clear whether fainting is associated with these vaccines or whether the fainting might be associated with anxiety around the shot, something that is more common in adolescents.
Again, as with any vaccine or medication, there is the possibility for serious side effects, such as an allergic reaction. However, these reactions are rare.
The HPV vaccine continues to be monitored for any safety concerns. The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), an agency co-managed by CDC and FDA, accepts and analyzes reports of adverse events to vaccines licensed in the U.S. Anyone can submit a report to VAERS about a reaction to a vaccine. In this way, VAERS serves as an “national early warning system” about any safety concerns with vaccines.
Among all reports to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) about HPV vaccines, the most frequently reported symptoms overall were largely the ones listed above—dizziness, fainting, headache, nausea, fever, and pain, redness, and swelling at the injection site. Although deaths have been reported among vaccine recipients none has been conclusively shown to have been caused by the vaccine.
There have been reports of a rare condition called Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS) among people who’ve received the vaccine. Experts have not found a connection between GBS and the HPV vaccine. In a review of 22 studies(opens in a new tab), based on over 10 million reports, there was no increased risk of GBS from the HPV vaccine.
Common Questions about HPV Vaccine
My children are older than 11 or 12. Is it too late to get the vaccine?
It’s not to late. If the children are under 15, they will only need two doses to complete the series. If they are fifteen or older, they will need three doses. But it isn’t too late—vaccination is currently recommended through age 26.
Why should my son get the vaccine? I thought it was only for girls.
The vaccine is recommended for everyone, regardless of sex or gender. Boys can be protected against genital warts caused by HPV as well as other types of HPV-related cancer, such as anal cancer and head and neck cancer. Head and neck cancer is actually much more common in males than females, and vaccination is an important tool to prevent this cancer.
My children are not yet sexually active, do they need the vaccine?
Yes. It’s better if they get they vaccine before they become sexually active. This way they can be protected against HPV infection before they are ever exposed to it. This is why vaccination is recommended at a young age. HPV is so common that most people who are sexually active will encounter it at some point. Vaccinating children before they are sexually active helps protect them later in life.
If someone is sexually active can they still get the vaccine?
People who are already sexually active may have been exposed to one or more of the types of HPV that the vaccines protect against. However, the HPV vaccine protects against nine different type of HPV that can cause disease, including cancer. Vaccination can still offer protection against HPV types.
Will the vaccine help my HPV go away faster?
No, the HPV vaccine is designed to prevent infection. It can’t treat HPV-related disease.
If I get the vaccine, do I still need to be screened for cervical cancer?
Yes. The HPV vaccine prevents the HPV types that cause 90% of cervical cancer cases, but there are other types of HPV not covered in the vaccine that could cause disease. Regular screening with Pap and HPV testing is still recommended so any problems can be diagnosed and treated early.
How can I pay for the vaccine?
Most insurance companies will cover the cost of vaccination. If your does not, or if you are uninsured, there are programs that can help. The Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program is a federal program that offers vaccines at no cost for eligible children, ages 18 and under, through VFC-enrolled doctors. Other alternatives include finding a local Planned Parenthood clinic or local health department to ask about options for reduced cost or sliding scale programs.