HPV Vaccine Safety

HPV vaccines are safe and effective. These resources answer common questions that patients and their parents/guardians may have about HPV vaccines.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends 11- to 12-year-olds get two doses of HPV vaccine to protect against cancers caused by HPV. The second dose should be given 6-12 months after the first dose. Those who initiate the vaccination series after age 15 years as well as those who are immunocompromised should receive three doses.

Both males and females up to age 26 years who were not adequately vaccinated should receive catch-up HPV vaccination.

Adults age 27-45 years should talk to a healthcare professional about whether HPV vaccination is right for them. Shared clinical decision-making is recommended because some individuals who are not adequately vaccinated might benefit from vaccination.

View additional information on the CDC recommendations.

Resources

HPV Coverage Among Adolescents and Postlicensure Vaccine Safety Monitoring

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Report on US HPV vaccine coverage between 2007-2013 and postlicensure vaccine safety monitoring between 2006-2014

Vaccine Side Effects: Cervarix®

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Summarizes side effects related to HPV vaccine

Vaccine Side Effects: Gardasil®

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Summarizes side effects related to HPV vaccine

Vaccine Side Effects: Gardasil-9®

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Summarizes side effects related to HPV-9 vaccine