HPV Vaccine for Adults: Is It Still Worth Getting?

Who is the HPV vaccine routinely recommended for?

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommends routine HPV vaccination for all adolescents at age 11 or 12, with catch-up vaccination through age 26 for anyone not previously vaccinated 1Ref 1Meites E, Szilagyi PG, Chesson HW, Unger ER, Romero JR, Markowitz LE (2019).Human Papillomavirus Vaccination for Adults: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.ACIP recommendation structure for HPV vaccination — routine through age 26, shared clinical decision-making for ages 27 to 45; dosing schedule (two or three doses depending on age at first dose); factors that shift the shared-decision calculus including prior HPV exposure and new partners2Ref 2Wodi AP, Issa AN, Moser CA, Cineas S (2025).Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommended Immunization Schedule for Adults Aged 19 Years or Older — United States, 2025.Current ACIP adult immunization schedule including HPV vaccine age ranges, dose recommendations, and updated 2025 schedule context. For this age group, the recommendation is unconditional — the vaccine is covered as a preventive service and no clinical discussion of risk is required.

People who were not vaccinated in adolescence and are now in their late teens or early twenties should get the vaccine without delay. The series confers protection against HPV types most responsible for cervical, anal, vaginal, vulvar, penile, and throat cancers, as well as genital warts 1Ref 1Meites E, Szilagyi PG, Chesson HW, Unger ER, Romero JR, Markowitz LE (2019).Human Papillomavirus Vaccination for Adults: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.ACIP recommendation structure for HPV vaccination — routine through age 26, shared clinical decision-making for ages 27 to 45; dosing schedule (two or three doses depending on age at first dose); factors that shift the shared-decision calculus including prior HPV exposure and new partners.

What does 'shared decision' mean for adults ages 27 to 45?

For adults 27 through 45, ACIP describes a shared clinical decision — meaning the benefit is more variable based on the individual's history and circumstances, so the recommendation is not automatic 1Ref 1Meites E, Szilagyi PG, Chesson HW, Unger ER, Romero JR, Markowitz LE (2019).Human Papillomavirus Vaccination for Adults: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.ACIP recommendation structure for HPV vaccination — routine through age 26, shared clinical decision-making for ages 27 to 45; dosing schedule (two or three doses depending on age at first dose); factors that shift the shared-decision calculus including prior HPV exposure and new partners. A clinician will consider:

• Whether you have had prior HPV infection or exposure (which reduces the benefit of the vaccine against already-encountered strains)
• Whether you have new sexual partners or partners with unknown HPV status
• Your immune status and overall health

The shared-decision model means your clinician is the right person to discuss whether the vaccine is likely to benefit you specifically at your age. Prior exposure to one HPV strain does not eliminate potential protection against the eight others that Gardasil 9 covers 1Ref 1Meites E, Szilagyi PG, Chesson HW, Unger ER, Romero JR, Markowitz LE (2019).Human Papillomavirus Vaccination for Adults: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.ACIP recommendation structure for HPV vaccination — routine through age 26, shared clinical decision-making for ages 27 to 45; dosing schedule (two or three doses depending on age at first dose); factors that shift the shared-decision calculus including prior HPV exposure and new partners.

What does Gardasil 9 protect against?

Gardasil 9 — the only HPV vaccine currently available in the United States — covers nine HPV strains 1Ref 1Meites E, Szilagyi PG, Chesson HW, Unger ER, Romero JR, Markowitz LE (2019).Human Papillomavirus Vaccination for Adults: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.ACIP recommendation structure for HPV vaccination — routine through age 26, shared clinical decision-making for ages 27 to 45; dosing schedule (two or three doses depending on age at first dose); factors that shift the shared-decision calculus including prior HPV exposure and new partners:

• Types 6 and 11: The low-risk strains responsible for approximately 90% of genital warts
• Types 16 and 18: High-risk strains responsible for the majority of cervical cancers and many anal, vaginal, vulvar, penile, and throat cancers
• Types 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58: Additional high-risk strains associated with cervical and other cancers

Together, these strains account for approximately 90% of cervical cancers and most HPV-related cancers at other sites 1Ref 1Meites E, Szilagyi PG, Chesson HW, Unger ER, Romero JR, Markowitz LE (2019).Human Papillomavirus Vaccination for Adults: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.ACIP recommendation structure for HPV vaccination — routine through age 26, shared clinical decision-making for ages 27 to 45; dosing schedule (two or three doses depending on age at first dose); factors that shift the shared-decision calculus including prior HPV exposure and new partners. The vaccine does not treat existing HPV infections — it prevents new ones.

What should you expect if you get vaccinated?

The series is two doses if you start before age 15, or three doses if you start at age 15 or older — the second dose given one to two months after the first, and the third dose six months after the first 1Ref 1Meites E, Szilagyi PG, Chesson HW, Unger ER, Romero JR, Markowitz LE (2019).Human Papillomavirus Vaccination for Adults: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.ACIP recommendation structure for HPV vaccination — routine through age 26, shared clinical decision-making for ages 27 to 45; dosing schedule (two or three doses depending on age at first dose); factors that shift the shared-decision calculus including prior HPV exposure and new partners2Ref 2Wodi AP, Issa AN, Moser CA, Cineas S (2025).Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommended Immunization Schedule for Adults Aged 19 Years or Older — United States, 2025.Current ACIP adult immunization schedule including HPV vaccine age ranges, dose recommendations, and updated 2025 schedule context. Adults receiving the three-dose series need to complete all three doses for full protection.

Side effects are generally mild: injection-site soreness and redness are most common; brief dizziness or fainting can occur in some recipients after the shot and is managed by sitting or lying down for 15 minutes afterward 2Ref 2Wodi AP, Issa AN, Moser CA, Cineas S (2025).Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommended Immunization Schedule for Adults Aged 19 Years or Older — United States, 2025.Current ACIP adult immunization schedule including HPV vaccine age ranges, dose recommendations, and updated 2025 schedule context. The vaccine is safe for most adults and can be given alongside other vaccines.

Tell your clinician about any allergies before receiving the vaccine, particularly if you have had a severe allergic reaction to a previous vaccine.

Does the vaccine replace cervical cancer screening?

No. The vaccine does not protect against all HPV strains, it does not clear infections already present, and it does not treat abnormal cells that may have developed before vaccination 3Ref 3US Preventive Services Task Force (2018).Screening for Cervical Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.Cervical cancer screening recommendations — basis for the point that Pap smears and HPV co-testing continue regardless of vaccination status. Pap smears and HPV co-testing remain important for all people with a cervix on the recommended schedule 3Ref 3US Preventive Services Task Force (2018).Screening for Cervical Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement.Cervical cancer screening recommendations — basis for the point that Pap smears and HPV co-testing continue regardless of vaccination status.

If you receive the HPV vaccine as an adult, continue your regular cervical cancer screening. The vaccine adds a layer of protection; it does not replace routine monitoring. A clinician can advise on the right screening schedule based on your age and prior test results.

What if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant?

HPV vaccination is not recommended during pregnancy — not because the vaccine is known to be harmful, but because data on pregnant recipients are limited 1Ref 1Meites E, Szilagyi PG, Chesson HW, Unger ER, Romero JR, Markowitz LE (2019).Human Papillomavirus Vaccination for Adults: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.ACIP recommendation structure for HPV vaccination — routine through age 26, shared clinical decision-making for ages 27 to 45; dosing schedule (two or three doses depending on age at first dose); factors that shift the shared-decision calculus including prior HPV exposure and new partners. If you start a vaccine series and then become pregnant, the remaining doses should be delayed until after delivery. Vaccination is safe during breastfeeding.

If you are planning to become pregnant, it is a good time to check whether you are up to date on the vaccine series and complete it before conception if possible.