HPV Vaccination

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Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common virus, some types of which spread through sexual contact. Some sexually transmitted HPVs can cause genital warts, whereas others, called high-risk or oncogenic HPVs, can cause cancer. High-risk HPVs cause virtually all cervical cancers, most anal cancers, and some vaginal, vulvar, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers. Many HPV infections go away on their own within 1 to 2 years. However, infections that last for many years increase a person’s risk of developing cancer.

HPV vaccines work like other immunizations (a technique used to cause an immune response that results in resistance to a specific disease) that guard against viral infections. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), both males and females aged 11 to 12 years should get vaccinated. People aged 9 to 26 years are recommended to receive the vaccine. People aged 27 to 45 years may decide to get vaccinated after talking with their doctors about their risks for new HPV infections.

Because the vaccines do not protect against all HPV infections that cause cervical cancer, it is important for vaccinated women to continue cervical cancer screening.

Percentage of adolescents aged 13-15 years who had received 2 or 3 doses of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine as recommended at time of immunization.

From 2008-2011, the recommendation by the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) was for a 3-dose series for females only. From 2011-2016, the recommendation included both males and females using a 3-dose series. Beginning in 2016, ACIP recommended males and females beginning their vaccination series before 15 years of age receive a 2-dose, rather than 3-dose series.

The National Immunization Survey Teen (NIS-Teen) vaccination coverage estimates are based on provider-reported vaccination histories from adolescents with adequate provider data (APD). NIS-Teen implemented a revised APD definition in 2014, thus estimates in 2014 and after are not directly comparable to those from prior years. However, the change in APD definition does not impact overall vaccination coverage trends; vaccines routinely recommended during adolescence, such as HPV, were less affected than vaccines routinely recommended in childhood. Additional information on implementation of the revised APD definition and assessment of impact on vaccine coverage estimates is available on the National Immunization Survey-Teen (NIS-Teen): Revised Definition of Adequate Provider Data (APD) website, published by the CDC.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The National Immunization Surveys (NIS), 2008-2022.

  • Increase to 80 percent the proportion of adolescents who receive recommended doses of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

Healthy People 2030 is a set of goals set forth by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Note: Goals are indicated as blue line on Detailed Trend Graphs.

2012-2022
2018-2022
Rising
Rising
HPV