HPV Vaccine
Vaccines protect your child before they are exposed to a disease. That’s why HPV vaccination is recommended earlier rather than later, to protect your child long before they are ever exposed to the virus. HPV vaccine provides your child with safe, effective and long lasting protection against certain types of cancer later in life.
Protect your child from developing certain types of cancers later in life with the HPV vaccine at ages 11–12.

“WHEN SHOULD YOUR CHILD GET THE HPV VACCINATION?
DOSE #1 11-12 YEARS
DOSE #2 6-12 MONTHS AFTER THE FIRST DOSE”
Two doses of the HPV vaccine are recommended for all girls at ages 11–12; the vaccine can be given as early as age 9. If you wait until they’re older, they may need three doses instead of two.
Children who start the vaccine series on or after their 15th birthday need three shots given over 6 months. If your teen hasn’t gotten the vaccine yet, talk to his/her doctor about getting it as soon as possible.
Reasons to Get Vaccinated
All 11–12 year old boys and girls need two doses of the HPV vaccine to protect against cancers caused by HPV infections.
80% of people will get an HPV infection in their lifetime. Almost every person who is sexually active will get HPV at some time in their life without HPV vaccination. While most HPV infections will go away on their own, infections that don’t go away can cause certain types of cancer.
HPV can cause cancers of the:
- Cervix, vagina and vulva in women
- Anus and back of throatincluding the base of the tongue and tonsils (oropharynx), in both women and men
HPV vaccination is preventing cancer-causing infections and precancers.
HPV infections and cervical precancers (abnormal cells on the cervix that can lead to cancer) have dropped significantly since the vaccine has been in use.
- Among teen girls, infections with HPV types that cause most HPV cancers and genital warts have dropped 86 percent.
- Among young adult women, infections with HPV types that cause most HPV cancers and genital warts have dropped 71 percent.
- Among vaccinated women, the percentage of cervical precancers caused by the HPV types most often linked to cervical cancer has dropped by 40 percent.
Answering Parents’ Questions about HPV Vaccine
- HPV vaccine is important because it prevents infections that can cause cancer.
- Some HPV infections can cause cancer—like cancer of the cervix or in the back of the throat—but we can protect your child from these cancers in the future by getting the first HPV shot today.
- Studies continue to prove HPV vaccination works extremely well, decreasing the number of infections and HPV precancers in young people since it has been available
- HPV is a very common infection in women and men that can cause cancer. Starting the vaccine series today will help protect your child from the cancers and diseases caused by HPV.
- Vaccines protect your child before they are exposed to a disease. That’s why we give the HPV vaccine earlier rather than later, to protect them long before they are ever exposed. Also, if your child gets the shot now, they will only need two doses. If you wait until your child is older, he/she may end up needing three shots.
- Studies tell us that getting HPV vaccine doesn’t make kids more likely to start having sex. I made sure my child (or grandchild, etc.) got HPV vaccine, and I recommend we give your child her first HPV shot today.
- HPV vaccination can help prevent future infections that can lead to cancers of the penis, anus, and back of the throat in men.
- Yes, HPV vaccination is very safe. Like any medication, vaccines can cause side effects, including pain, swelling, or redness where the shot was given. That’s normal for HPV vaccine too and should go away in a day or two. Sometimes kids faint after they get shots and they could be injured if they fall from fainting. We’ll have your child stay seated after the shot to help protect him/her.
- There is no evidence to suggest that getting HPV vaccine will have an effect on future fertility. However, women who develop an HPV precancer or cancer could require treatment that would limit their ability to have children.