HPV Vaccination is Safe, Effective

By Sarah Timbie 

March 4 is international human papillomavirus (HPV) awareness day.  

HPV is a family of over 200 viruses that can cause many different diseases in people, including six different cancer types: cervical, anal, vaginal, vulvar, penile, and oropharyngeal. Every year in the U.S. there are around 40,000 new cases of these cancers, says Robert Bednarczyk, PhD, but most of them can be prevented with the HPV vaccination. The HPV vaccine has been available for use in the U.S. since 2006. 

“In study after study, [the vaccine] has been shown to be safe and effective and a very good way to prevent six different types of cancers,” says Bednarczyk. 

The HPV vaccine can be administered at multiple ages. It is most effective when given to children ages 11-12 but can be administered as early as age nine. The HPV vaccine is also recommended for young adults who are unvaccinated. Older, unvaccinated adults may benefit from vaccination too but should discuss their options with a health care provider.  

“By encouraging vaccination at age nine, we can do a better job of getting all of the doses of the vaccine that they need to be protected,” says Bednarczyk.