HPV Vaccine

What does the HPV vaccine do?
The HPV vaccine prevents genital warts, cancer-causing infections, and precancers. All HPV vaccines have been found to have high efficacy (nearly 100%) for prevention of HPV vaccine type-related persistent infection, cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 2/3, and adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS) in clinical trials. The vaccine does not protect against all HPV types.

How many doses of the HPV are recommended?
3 doses of HPV vaccine are recommended for teens and young adults who start the series from ages 15 to 26, and for immunocompromised individuals. The recommended schedule is 0, 1–2 and 6 months. 3 doses are recommended for immunocompromised individuals (including those with HIV infection) for people from the ages 9 to 26.

How long is the HPV vaccine effective?
Protection provided by the HPV vaccine is long-lasting. There is no evidence to suggest that the vaccine’s ability to protect against HPV decreases over time.

Who can get the HPV vaccine?
All people ages 9 to 45 can get the HPV vaccine, but the HPV vaccination is not recommended for everyone older than age 26 years. If you are between the ages of 27 and 45 and not already vaccinated, speak with your doctor about the risk for new HPV infections and possible benefits of vaccination. The reason people aged 27 to 45 may not get the HPV vaccination is due to the fact that it may not be as beneficial, as people in this age range may have already been exposed to HPV.

Who should not get the HPV vaccine?
If you are currently pregnant, it’s best to wait until after your pregnancy to get the HPV vaccine. 

You should not get the HPV vaccine If you have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to any component of HPV vaccine, or to a previous dose of HPV vaccine.

Speak with your healthcare provider before getting HPV vaccine if you have severe allergies, including an allergy to yeast.

What kind of HPV vaccines are available?
There are 3 HPV vaccines: 9-valent HPV vaccine (Gardasil® 9), quadrivalent HPV vaccine (Gardasil®), and bivalent HPV vaccine (Cervarix®). As of 2016, Gardasil® 9 has been the only HPV vaccine available for use in the United States.

Is the HPV vaccine safe?
With over 15 years of research, the HPV vaccine has been FDA approved, is continuously monitored, and deemed safe and effective.

However, as with any medicine, there is a slight risk of serious complications.

Symptoms of a severe allergic reaction include:

• Hives

• Swelling of the face and throat

• Difficulty breathing

• fast heartbeat

• Dizziness

• Weakness

If such reactions occur, call 9-1-1 and get the person to the nearest hospital, as this can be life threatening.

Does the HPV vaccine have side effects?

• Temporary pain, redness, or swelling in the arm where the shot was injected

• Fever

• Dizziness or fainting

• Nausea

• Headache or tiredness

• Muscle or joint pain

Where are HPV vaccines administered?
You can get the HPV vaccine at clinics, health departments, and through private nurses and doctors. Other locations include Planned Parenthood, college and university campus clinics, and local health departments. Use the NACCHO Directory of Local Health Departments to search for local health departments in your area.

What is the cost of the HPV vaccine?
The cost of each dose of the vaccine can be around $250. If you have insurance, speak to your primary care physician about getting the HPV vaccine. You can speak to the staff at places such as Planned Parenthood health centers or another nurse or doctor to discuss how to make the vaccine more affordable.

GoodRx allows you to compare different prices for medication and immunizations.