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HPV (HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS)

* HPV and Cancer
* HPV Vaccines
* HPV Vaccine Facts
* American Cancer Society Recommendations for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
Vaccine Use
* HPV and HPV Testing
* What Parents Should Know About the HPV Vaccines

* Home
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* Infectious Agents
* HPV (Human Papillomavirus)

HPV VACCINE FACTS

The vaccine to help prevent human papillomavirus (HPV) infections is safe and
effective. The American Cancer Society recommends the vaccine as one way to keep
more people from getting cancer. HPV vaccination is cancer prevention.

However, myths and rumors shared on social media, blogs, and alternative health
websites make claims that may scare people away from this life-saving vaccine.
Here are some facts about the HPV vaccine you should know. If you have questions
that are not answered here, please call us at 1-800-227-2345. We are available
24 hours a day, 7 days a week to help you.

FACT 1: THE VACCINE PREVENTS CERTAIN CANCERS.

HPV is known to cause cancers of the throat, cervix, vulva, vagina, penis, and
anus. The HPV vaccine works very well. Studies have shown that the vaccine
provides close to 100% protection against infections and pre-cancers caused by
certain types of HPV. Giving the vaccine to boys and girls between 9 and 12
years old can prevent more than 90% of HPV cancers when they get older.

FACT 2: THE HPV VACCINE WORKS BEST WHEN GIVEN BETWEEN AGES 9 AND 12

Since vaccines are used to help prevent diseases, children are vaccinated before
being exposed to an infection. Most people in the US are exposed to HPV in their
teens and early twenties, so it’s best to get the vaccine before then, between
ages 9 and 12. The body also produces the most antibodies to HPV when the
vaccine is given in this age range. Teens and young adults age 13 through 26 who
have not been vaccinated, or who haven’t gotten all their doses, should get the
vaccine as soon as possible. ACS does not recommend HPV vaccination for anyone
older than 26 years.

FACT 3: THE HPV VACCINE IS FOR BOYS AND GIRLS

The HPV vaccine is strongly recommended for boys and girls. It can help protect
them from infection with the most common types of HPV that can cause cancer when
they get older. HPV is so common that almost everyone (at least 8 out of 10
people in the US) will come in contact with it at some point in their lives.

Most HPV infection goes away without any health problems. However, there is no
way to know when it won’t and an infection could lead to cancer. Vaccinating
your child against HPV helps protect them.

FACT 4: THE VACCINE IS SAFE.

The HPV vaccine has been used since 2006. The vaccine went through extensive
safety testing before becoming available. More than 270 million doses of the HPV
vaccine have been given worldwide, including 120 million doses in the US.
Scientists and health organizations around the world closely monitor HPV vaccine
safety.

In the US, vaccine safety is watched by several national systems that work
together to make sure that any harmful effects of vaccines can be found early.
More than 100 studies in millions of people worldwide have all shown that the
HPV vaccine is safe.

Like any vaccination, there may be common mild side effects from the HPV vaccine
that go away quickly like headache or fever. There can be pain, redness, and/or
swelling where the shot was given. A small number of people may have a more
serious side effect that could occur with any vaccine, such as an allergic
reaction or fainting when the vaccine is given. Anyone who has a severe allergy
to yeast or any other ingredient in the vaccine should not receive the HPV
vaccine.

FACT 5: THE HPV VACCINE DOES NOT CONTAIN HARMFUL INGREDIENTS.

The ingredients in the HPV vaccine, like all vaccines, help make sure that it is
effective and safe. These ingredients occur naturally in the environment, the
human body, and foods. For example, the HPV vaccine contains aluminum like the
hepatitis B and Tdap vaccines. Aluminum boosts the body’s immune response to the
vaccine. People are exposed to aluminum every day through food, cooking
utensils, water, and even breast milk. Aluminum-containing vaccines have been
used for decades and have been given safely to more than 3 billion people.

FACT 6: THE HPV VACCINE CAN PROTECT, NOT HARM, FERTILITY.

There are no data to suggest that getting the HPV vaccine will affect your
chances of having children later on (future fertility). In fact, the HPV vaccine
can help protect women from future fertility problems linked to cervical cancer
and pre-cancer. The HPV vaccine is a safe way to help protect health and the
ability to have healthy babies.

FACT 7: THE HPV VACCINE LASTS A LONG TIME.

When your child gets the HPV vaccine they will make proteins called antibodies
that fight the virus. Antibodies give strong and long-lasting protection.
Current research shows that there’s no sign the vaccine protection lessens with
time. Research will continue to look at how long protection against HPV lasts,
and if booster shots will be needed.

FACT 8: MOST CHILDREN IN THE US CAN GET THE HPV VACCINE FOR LITTLE-TO-NO COST

Most insurance plans will cover the HPV vaccine cost if it is given according to
national guidelines, between ages 9 and 26. But check with your insurance plan
to be sure.

The federal Vaccines for Children (VFC) program covers vaccine costs, including
the HPV vaccine, for children and teens who don’t have insurance. The VFC
program provides free vaccines to children and teens until 18 years of age, who
are either Medicaid-eligible, American Indian or Alaska Native, underinsured, or
uninsured.

The VFC program also allows children and teens to get VFC vaccines through
federally qualified health centers or rural health centers. For more on the VFC
program or to find the VFC contact where you live,
visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/contacts-state.html, or call
1-800-232-4636.

* Written by
* References

The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team

Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge
of cancer care as well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive
experience in medical writing.

Block SL, Nolan T, Sattler C, et al. Comparison of the immunogenicity and
reactogenicity of a prophylactic quadrivalent human papillomavirus (types 6, 11,
16, and 18) L1 virus-like particle vaccine in male and female adolescents and
young adult women. Pediatrics. 2006; DOI: 10.1542/peds.2006-0461.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Human Papillomavirus. Accessed
June 5, 2018 at https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/index.html.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HPV Cancers Are Preventable.
Accessed July 27, 2020 at https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/hcp/hpv-important.html.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HPV Vaccination is Safe and
Effective. Accessed July 27, 2020 at
https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/parents/vaccinesafety.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vaccine Safety Monitoring.
Accessed July 27, 2020 at
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/ensuringsafety/monitoring/index.html.

Garçon N, Hem S, Friede M. 5 - Evolution of adjuvants across the centuries. In:
Plotkin SA, Orenstein WA, Offit PA, eds. Vaccines (Sixth Edition). W.B.
Saunders; 2013:58-70.

Giuliano AR, Lazcano-Ponce E, Villa L, et al. Impact of baseline covariates on
the immunogenicity of a quadrivalent (types 6, 11, 16, and 18) human
papillomavirus virus-like-particle vaccine. J Infect Dis. 2007; DOI:
10.1086/521679.

Jhingran A, Russel AH, Seiden MV, et al. Cancers of the cervix, vagina and
vulva. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Doroshow JH, et al. Clinical Oncology.
5th ed. Philadelphia, Pa; Elsevier; 2014: 1534-1574.

Klopp AH, Eifel PJ, Berek JS, Konstantinopoulos PA. Cancer of the cervix,
vagina, and vulva. In: DeVita VT, Hellman S, Rosenberg SA, eds. Cancer:
Principles and Practice of Oncology, 10th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott
Williams & Wilkins; 2015: Chapter 72.

National Cancer Institute. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccines. Accessed July
27, 2020 at
https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/infectious-agents/hpv-vaccine-fact-sheet#how-effective-are-hpv-vaccines.

Phillips A, Patel C, Pillsbury A, et al. Safety of Human Papillomavirus
Vaccines: An Updated Review. Drug Saf. 2018; DOI: 10.1007/s40264-017-0625-z.

Reisinger KS, Block SL, Lazcano-Ponce E, et al. Safety and persistent
immunogenicity of a quadrivalent human papillomavirus types 6, 11, 16, 18 L1
virus-like particle vaccine in preadolescents and adolescents - A randomized
controlled trial. Ped Infect Dis J. 2007; DOI:
10.1097/01.inf.0000253970.29190.5a.

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; DOI: 10.3322/caac.21616.

Saslow D, Castle P, Cox J, et al. American Cancer Society Guideline for Human
Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine Use to Prevent Cervical Cancer and Its Precursors.
CA Cancer J Clin. 2008; DOI: 10.3322/canjclin.57.1.7.

World Health Organization. Key messages. Accessed May 6, 2020 at
https://www.who.int/news-room/campaigns/world-immunization-week/world-immunization-week-2020/key-messages.

Written by

The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team

Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge
of cancer care as well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive
experience in medical writing.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Human Papillomavirus. Accessed
June 5, 2018 at https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/index.html.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HPV Cancers Are Preventable.
Accessed July 27, 2020 at https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/hcp/hpv-important.html.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). HPV Vaccination is Safe and
Effective. Accessed July 27, 2020 at
https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/parents/vaccinesafety.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Vaccine Safety Monitoring.
Accessed July 27, 2020 at
https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/ensuringsafety/monitoring/index.html.

Garçon N, Hem S, Friede M. 5 - Evolution of adjuvants across the centuries. In:
Plotkin SA, Orenstein WA, Offit PA, eds. Vaccines (Sixth Edition). W.B.
Saunders; 2013:58-70.

Phillips A, Patel C, Pillsbury A, et al. Safety of Human Papillomavirus
Vaccines: An Updated Review. Drug Saf. 2018; DOI: 10.1007/s40264-017-0625-z.

World Health Organization. Key messages. Accessed May 6, 2020 at
https://www.who.int/news-room/campaigns/world-immunization-week/world-immunization-week-2020/key-messages.

Last Revised: August 4, 2020

American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint
requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.

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