The short answer
The HPV vaccine protects against the human papillomavirus types that cause most cervical cancers and several other cancers. It is routinely recommended at ages 11 to 12 and through age 26, with a shared decision for some adults 27 to 45. It has a strong safety record.
The HPV vaccine protects against HPV types that cause most cervical and several other cancers.
It is routinely recommended for children at age 11 or 12 and can start at age 9.
Catch-up vaccination is recommended through age 26 for those not vaccinated earlier.
Some adults 27 to 45 may benefit after a shared decision with their provider.
Watch: The vaccine that prevents cancer
46 sec · Captioned · The HPV vaccine prevents six cancer types, and is approved up to age 45.
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The simple version
This page is for parents and young adults deciding about the HPV vaccine. The HPV vaccine helps prevent cancer before it ever starts. It protects against the human papillomavirus (HPV) types that cause most cervical cancers and several other cancers.
The vaccine works best when given early, before a person is ever exposed to HPV. That is why it is routinely recommended for children at age 11 or 12.
The HPV vaccine is one of the few vaccines that can help prevent cancer, and it has a strong safety record.
What the vaccine prevents
HPV is a very common virus. Some types can cause cancer over time. The HPV vaccine protects against the types that cause most HPV-related cancers.
The vaccine can help prevent:
- Cervical cancer
- Anal cancer
- Oropharyngeal (throat) cancer
- Penile cancer
- Vaginal cancer
- Vulvar cancer
It also protects against the HPV types that cause most genital warts. By preventing infection, the vaccine can prevent many of these cancers from ever developing.
How the vaccine works
You do not need to know the science to benefit, but a simple explanation can help ease worry.
The HPV vaccine does not contain any live virus. It helps your body build protection against HPV before you are ever exposed.
Because there is no live virus, the vaccine cannot give you HPV.
Who should get it and when
Timing matters. The vaccine works best when given before a person is exposed to HPV.
Here are the general recommendations:
- Routine age: The vaccine is recommended at age 11 or 12. It can be started as early as age 9.
- Everyone through 26: Catch-up vaccination is recommended for people through age 26 who were not vaccinated earlier.
- Some adults 27 to 45: The vaccine is approved through age 45. It is not routine for this group, but some adults may benefit. This is a shared decision with your provider.
The younger a person is vaccinated, the more protection they usually get.
How many doses
The number of doses depends on age at the first shot.
- People who start before age 15 usually need two doses.
- People who start at age 15 or older usually need three doses.
Your healthcare provider can confirm the right schedule for you or your child.
Is it safe?
Yes. The HPV vaccine has been studied and monitored for safety for more than two decades.
In that time, no serious side effects have been linked to the vaccine. The most common problems are mild and short-lived, such as:
- Soreness at the injection site
- Redness or swelling where the shot was given
These are similar to the mild effects seen with many other vaccines. Health agencies continue to watch vaccine safety closely.
The vaccine does not replace screening
The HPV vaccine is powerful, but it does not protect against every cancer-causing HPV type.
For this reason, people who have been vaccinated should still get cervical cancer screening. Screening can find cell changes early, before they become cancer.
Think of the vaccine and screening as a team. Together, they offer the strongest protection against cervical cancer.
Cost and access
Most private insurance plans cover the HPV vaccine as a recommended preventive service, often with no extra cost to you.
Medicaid covers the vaccine. The Merck Vaccine Patient Assistance Program offers free doses to eligible uninsured people ages 19 to 45, according to NCI. Your healthcare team can help you find out what is available.
If you have questions about whether the vaccine is right for you or your child, your provider is the best person to ask.
A rare chance to prevent cancer
By preventing infection with high-risk HPV types, the vaccine can prevent many cancers from ever starting. CDC reports that cervical precancers fell by about 40% in vaccinated women, and that HPV infections dropped sharply in young women after the vaccine was introduced.
If you are unsure whether you or your child are up to date, your healthcare team can check and answer any questions. Getting vaccinated on time gives the strongest, longest-lasting protection.
Common questions
What does the HPV vaccine protect against?
The HPV vaccine protects against infection with HPV types that cause most cervical cancers and many anal, oropharyngeal (throat), penile, vaginal, and vulvar cancers. It also protects against the types that cause most genital warts.
At what age should someone get the HPV vaccine?
It is routinely recommended at age 11 or 12 and can be started at age 9. Catch-up vaccination is recommended through age 26 for people not vaccinated earlier. The vaccine works best when given before any exposure to HPV.
Can adults older than 26 get the vaccine?
The vaccine is approved through age 45. It is not routinely recommended for everyone 27 to 45, but some adults may benefit. This is a shared decision to make with your healthcare provider.
How many doses are needed?
People who start before age 15 usually get two doses. Those who start at age 15 or older usually get three doses. Your provider can confirm the right schedule for you.
Is the HPV vaccine safe?
Yes. After more than two decades of safety monitoring, no serious side effects have been linked to the vaccine. The most common problems are brief soreness or other mild symptoms at the injection site.
If I get the vaccine, do I still need cervical cancer screening?
Yes. The vaccine does not protect against every cancer-causing HPV type. People who have been vaccinated should still follow the same cervical cancer screening recommendations as those who were not vaccinated.
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Last updated: 2026-10-02Next planned review: 2027-07-04
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Cancer Explained does not originate medical claims. Every page restates guidance already published by the National Cancer Institute, the CDC, the USPSTF and the FDA, in plain language, with the source cited so you can check the original yourself. AI does the translating and organizing; automated checks test claims, citations, clarity and safety before anything publishes, and this is translation and navigation, not clinical judgment. Nothing here is personal medical advice, and no page can account for your particular situation.
Editorial status: Source checked — This page was written with AI assistance and then compared with the sources listed on it, looking for statements those sources do not back up. That check is not a sentence-by-sentence record and can miss errors. It is not a medical review, and it does not confirm the page is complete or right for your situation.
Human medical review: not completed. Pages here are not signed off by a clinician before they publish. That is not an oversight we are quietly working around: we restate published guidance and cite it, so the authority belongs to the source rather than to us, and every page names where its claims come from — you can verify us instead of trusting us. Where a volunteer clinician has reviewed a page, their name and credentials appear on it; where no name appears, no clinician has checked it. We are glad to have reviewers and are recruiting them, and we do not hold pages back waiting for one. Use this site to understand your situation and to ask better questions of the people treating you.
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