HPV Vaccines: Vaccinating Your Preteen or Teen
Why does my child need HPV vaccine?
HPV vaccine is important because it protects against cancers caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. HPV is a very common virus; nearly 80 million people—about one in four—are currently infected in the United States. About 14 million people, including teens, become infected with HPV each year.
Most people with HPV never develop symptoms or health problems. Most HPV infections (9 out of 10) go away by themselves within two years. But, sometimes, HPV infections will last longer, and can cause certain cancers and other diseases. HPV infection can cause:
- cancers of the cervix, vagina, and vulva in women;
- cancers of the penis in men; and
- cancers of the anus and back of the throat, including the base of the tongue and tonsils (oropharynx), in both women and men.
Every year in the United States, HPV causes 30,700 cancers in men and women. HPV vaccination can prevent most of the cancers (about 28,000) from occurring.
When should my child be vaccinated?
In this video, a family physician explains his decision, as a doctor and a parent, to make sure each of his children received HPV vaccine at age 11 or 12. HPV vaccine is cancer prevention. Ask about it for your child.
All kids who are 11 or 12 years old should get two shots of HPV vaccine six to twelve months apart. Adolescents who receive their two shots less than five months apart will require a third dose of HPV vaccine.
If your teen hasn’t gotten the vaccine yet, talk to their doctor or nurse about getting it for them as soon as possible. If your child is older than 14 years, three shots will need to be given over 6 months. Also, three doses are still recommended for people with certain immunocompromising conditions aged 9 through 26 years.
- HPV Vaccines for Boys and Girls [2 pages]
- 3 Things Parents Need to Know about Preventing Cancers
- CDC Feature: Are your kids protected from HPV-related cancers?
- Frequently Asked Questions about HPV Vaccines
Who else should get the HPV vaccine?
Teen boys and girls who did not start or finish the HPV vaccine series when they were younger should get it now.
If your teen hasn’t gotten the HPV vaccine yet, talk to their doctor about getting it as soon as possible.
HPV vaccine is recommended for young women through age 26, and young men through age 21. HPV vaccine is also recommended for the following people, if they did not get vaccinated when they were younger:
- young men who have sex with men, including young men who identify as gay or bisexual or who intend to have sex with men through age 26;
- young adults who are transgender through age 26; and
- young adults with certain immunocompromising conditions (including HIV) through age 26.
Read more: HPV Vaccine – Questions & Answers
Related Pages
- Vaccines for Preteens and Teens
- HPV Vaccine Information Sheet
- Preteens Need Vaccines Too! – CDC Features Article
- HPV Vaccine Information For Young Women – Fact Sheet
- Human Papillomavirus Vaccination: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
- Genital HPV Infection – Fact Sheet
- Basic Information About Cervical Cancer
- Making Sense of Your Pap and HPV Test Results Brochure
- Condom Fact Sheet In Brief
- HPV and Oropharyngeal Cancer – Fact Sheet
- Page last reviewed: December 13, 2016
- Page last updated: August 24, 2017
- Content source: