Why is the HPV vaccine recommended for pre-teens?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends vaccinating boys and girls ages 11-12 years old for human papillomavirus (HPV). Several expert organizations, such as the American Cancer Society and the National HPV Vaccination Roundtable, highly encourage parents to start HPV vaccination for their children as early as age 9. Since the vaccine is prophylactic (preventive), starting at an earlier age makes it more likely that the vaccine is given in before any exposure to the HPV virus. The immune response to vaccines is better in children under 15 years old, requiring fewer doses of the vaccine to be achieve immunity:

For children 9-14 years old: 2 doses provided 6-12 months apart

For individuals 15 years and older: 3 doses (an initial shot, a second dose in 1-2 months, and the third dose given 6 months after the first).

The Society for Women’s Health Research #SWHRtalksHPV Video Series was created to help parents and guardians learn about the HPV vaccine and cancer prevention by sharing facts and insights from immunization experts.

In this video, experts share why it is important to receive the HPV vaccine series in childhood.

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