Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsChildrenYoung AdultsAdults Over 26Adults over 50Other Cancers
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Children
Young Adults
Adults Over 26
Adults over 50
Other Cancers
Thehuman papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinehas become an essential part of basic preventive healthcare for preteens, teenagers, and young adults. It prevents against nine strains ofHPV,a virus that can be transmitted through sexual contact of all types, including vaginal, oral, and anal sex.
HPVcan causegenital wartsand, in some people,cervical,throat,anal, or other cancers.
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Two major public health bodies—the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Cancer Society (ACS)—offer specific recommendations for those who are 9 to 26 and those who are 27 to 45.
This article discusses the ideal age to get the HPV vaccine, as well as theHPV vaccination recommendationsfor adults who have not yet been vaccinated.
The HPV vaccine can prevent you from getting infected. It does not alter the course of the disease in people who have already been infected.
10 Facts You Should Know About HPV
Recommendations for Children
Epidemiological data suggest that up to 80% of people will get an HPV infection at some point in their life. Given this, the CDC recommends HPV vaccination for all children ages 11 to 12. The vaccine can be given as early as age 9.
Two shots of the vaccine, administered six to 12 months apart, are needed. Those who get the second dose less than five months after the first will need a third dose. Anyone who gets the vaccine after the age of 14 would also need three doses.
ACS guidelines differ slightly. The ACS panel recommends vaccination for children 9 to 10 based on the expectation that doing so will help achieve higher on-time vaccination rates and reduce the rate of HPV-associated cancers.
Recommendations for Young Adults
The CDC also recommends a three-dose series of the HPV vaccine for certain people who have not completed the early two-dose series. These include:
In addition, the HPV vaccine is recommended for young adults up to age 26 who areimmunocompromised, such as those living withHIV.
Although men get HPV-associated diseases less often than women, vaccination is still recommended. This is especially true for MSM, who are up to 38 times more likely to get anal cancer compared to the general population; that jumps to 130 times more likely if they have HIV.
Are HPV and Genital Warts the Same Thing?
Recommendations for People Over 26
Although the HPV vaccine is approved for people up to 45, the CDC only offers a provisional recommendation for vaccination of women and men over 26.
According to the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), HPV vaccination is less likely to offer benefits at this point in life given that most adults over 26 will already have beeninfected with HPV.
For this reason, clinicians can administer the vaccine to patients over 26 but should advise them of the limitations of vaccination. People who have had no or very few sexual partners stand the best chance of reaping the benefits of vaccination.
In contrast to the CDC recommendations, the ACS guidelinesdo notencourage HPV vaccination after 26, as it is unlikely to provide protection from cancer.
In addition, there has been a global shortage of HPV vaccine that is expected to continue for several years. Offering the vaccine to those who are most likely to benefit from it is a strategic way to ensure that enough is available moving forward.
HPV Doctor Discussion GuideGet our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.Download PDFEmail AddressSign UpThank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up.There was an error. Please try again.
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Can You Get the HPV Vaccine After 50?
The HPV vaccine is only approved for use in persons between the ages of 9 and 45. Even so, the HPV vaccination is not recommended for everyone between the ages of 27 and 45 years. While it’s safe for adults to get the HPV vaccine at this age range, it might not be very effective as they are more likely to have already been exposed to HPV.
What Other Cancers Does the HPV Vaccine Prevent?
In addition to providing protection against cervical, throat, and anal cancers, the HPV vaccine can also prevent certain cancers of thepenis,vagina, andvulva.
Summary
HPV vaccination is an important part of a cancer prevention plan. According to the CDC, HPV infection accounts for nearly 36,000 cancer diagnoses each year, of which 33,000 may be prevented if current HPV vaccination guidelines are followed.
Persons between the ages of 9 and 45 may be candidates for the HPV vaccine. However, the vaccine works best when given to children ages 11 to 12 years.If you think you are at high risk of HPV but fall outside of the recommended age group for vaccination, speak with your healthcare provider to see if Gardasil-9 is appropriate for you.
8 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.Human papillomavirus (HPV): HPV vaccine schedule and dosing.
Colón-López V, Shiels MS, Machin M, et al.Anal cancer risk among people with HIV infection in the United States.J Clin Oncol. 2018 Jan 1;36(1):68–75. doi:10.1200/JCO.2017.74.9291
Meites E, Szilagyi PG, Chesson HW, et al.Human papillomavirus vaccination for adults: Updated recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.MMWR.2019 Aug 16;68932:698-702. doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6832a3
Saslow D, Andrews KS, Manassaram-Baptiste D, et al.Human papillomavirus vaccination 2020 guideline update: American Cancer Society guideline adaptation.CA Cancer J Clin. 2020 Jul 8;70(4):281-2. doi:10.3322/caac.21616
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.HPV vaccine.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Human papillomavirus (HPV): Reasons to get vaccinated.
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