Key TakeawaysThe most current HPV vaccine, Gardasil 9, is safe and highly effective at preventing genital warts and HPV-related cancers.It’s recommended that people receive the HPV vaccine when they are in early adolescence, before becoming sexually active. However, getting the Gardasil 9 vaccine after becoming sexually active can still offer protection against HPV-related cancers.Widespread HPV vaccination could help eliminate HPV-related cancers, including cervical cancer.

Key Takeaways

The most current HPV vaccine, Gardasil 9, is safe and highly effective at preventing genital warts and HPV-related cancers.It’s recommended that people receive the HPV vaccine when they are in early adolescence, before becoming sexually active. However, getting the Gardasil 9 vaccine after becoming sexually active can still offer protection against HPV-related cancers.Widespread HPV vaccination could help eliminate HPV-related cancers, including cervical cancer.

Human papillomavirus (HPV)is the most prevalent sexually transmitted infection in the United States. The latest HPV vaccine,Gardasil 9, protects against the nine strains of human papillomavirus that are most likely to cause cancer and genital warts. Gardasil has FDA approval to prevent the following conditions in people who are 9 to 45 years old:

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends giving the first dose of the HPV vaccine at 11 or 12 years old, though children can get their first dose at age 9.

If you did not get the HPV vaccine as a preteen, can you still get it as an adult? And should you get it? Here’s what experts say.

Why Is Gardasil Given to Kids?

HPV-related cancers develop slowly and often don’t show up until adulthood. As such, many caregivers don’t feel any urgency about vaccinating their kids against HPV. However, the best protection is offered if kids get the HPV vaccine before their first sexual encounter.

“Everyone who engages in any type of sexual relationship during their lifetime is likely to become infected with HPV,”Heather Brandt, PhD, the director of the HPV Cancer Prevention Program atSt. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, told Verywell. “The HPV vaccine is a preventive measure. We want to ensure that children receive the vaccine before engaging in behaviors that may lead to cancer later.”

A 2023 study found that boys and girls who got three doses of theGardasil 9 vaccinebetween the ages of 9 and 14 still had immunity against the virus 10 years later. The study also showed that the vaccine was very safe.

“This study confirms what we already knew and gives us more confidence in saying that this is a durable vaccine that provides long-lasting protection,” said Brandt.

HPV-related cancers can occur in people of either sex, so all children should get the HPV vaccine,Anna Giuliano, PhD, a researcher in the early development of an HPV vaccine, told Verywell.

“HPV is an ‘equal opportunity virus,’” said Giuliano, who serves as director of the Center for Immunization and Infection Research in Cancer (CIIRC) atMoffitt Cancer Center. “But we have strong evidence from clinical trials that the vaccine remains highly efficacious in protecting both men and women.”

Is The HPV Vaccine Safe?

“It’s important to emphasize that the HPV vaccine has been on the market since 2006, so we have population-level data,” said Giuliano. “During that time, the US Food and Drug Administration, the World Health Organization, and the vaccine’s manufacturer have been carefully examining the safety profile year after year. It has been clear that this is a very safe vaccine, and the benefits far outweigh the adverse effects.”

Can You Still Get the HPV Vaccine as an Adult?

If you did not receive theHPV vaccineas a kid or preteen, you could still benefit from getting it as a grown-up.

“Getting the HPV vaccine from age 27 to 45 involves shared clinical decision-making with your healthcare provider,” said Brandt. “Most individuals at that age have already been exposed to HPV, but maybe not to all the strains, so they should talk to their healthcare provider about whether the HPV vaccine is right for them.”

Heather Brandt, PhDEveryone who engages in any type of sexual relationship during their lifetime is likely to become infected with HPV.

Heather Brandt, PhD

Everyone who engages in any type of sexual relationship during their lifetime is likely to become infected with HPV.

Adults getting the vaccine for the first time will need more doses than children. People under the age of 15 need two doses given 6 to 12 months apart for protection, while people between 15 and 45 need three doses.

If you’ve already had the HPV vaccine, you should still use protection toprevent HPV infectionand see your healthcare provider for routine cancer screenings, such as pap smears.

Worldwide, HPV-related cancers account for about 630,000 new cancer diagnoses every year.With higher HPV vaccination rates, researchers think we could see lower rates of HPV-related cancers.

“TheHPV vaccineprevents 90% of HPV-related cancers and almost 100% of cervical cancers,” said Brandt.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has actually made it a global goal toeliminate cervical cancer.

Giuliano said that HPV vaccination is an “amazing opportunity” to work towards that objective and that “if we can get 80% of Americans vaccinated, we can achieve that outcome.”

What This Means For YouIf you’re a caregiver for a preteen, the HPV vaccine is a safe and effective prevention step that can guard them against HPV-related cancers and genital warts. While it’s best to get Gardasil 9 before becoming sexually active, you could still benefit fromgetting it later in life. Talk to your provider about whether it would make sense to get the HPV vaccine as an adult.

What This Means For You

If you’re a caregiver for a preteen, the HPV vaccine is a safe and effective prevention step that can guard them against HPV-related cancers and genital warts. While it’s best to get Gardasil 9 before becoming sexually active, you could still benefit fromgetting it later in life. Talk to your provider about whether it would make sense to get the HPV vaccine as an adult.

5 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Food and Drug Administration.Gardasil 9.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Administering HPV vaccine.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Genital HPV infection.

Restrepo J, Herrera T, Samakoses R, et al.Ten-year follow-up of 9-valent human papillomavirus vaccine: immunogenicity, effectiveness, and safety.Pediatrics. 2023;152(4):e2022060993. doi:10.1542/peds.2022-060993

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