Yes. The HPV vaccine prevents infection with the high-risk types of this virus, which cause almost all cervical cancers and some cancers of the back of the throat, the anus and the genitals [1, 2]. In Sweden, girls and women vaccinated before the age of 17 had about 9 in 10 fewer cervical cancers [3]; in Scotland, no cases at all were seen in women vaccinated at age 12 or 13 [4]. The World Health Organization says the best time is between 9 and 14 years of age, before sexual activity starts, and that one or two doses are enough up to the age of 20 [1].
Key points
- HPV causes almost all cervical cancers and also some cancers of the back of the throat, anus, penis, vagina and vulva [1, 2].
- The vaccine greatly lowers the risk of cancer, especially when given in the early teens [3, 4, 5].
- The best age is 9 to 14, for girls and boys; up to age 20, one or two doses are enough [1, 7].
- The vaccine is safe: its common side effect is pain and redness where the injection is given, and serious side effects were no more frequent in vaccinated people than in others [1, 6].
- The vaccine does not replace screening: vaccinated women still need cervical screening tests [1, 11].
What is HPV and which cancers does it cause?
HPV (human papillomavirus) is a very common virus that spreads through sexual contact. Nearly everyone who is sexually active is infected within a few months to a few years of starting sexual activity [2]. In most people, the body clears the virus within one or two years and no harm is done [2]. Cancer itself is not contagious; what spreads is the virus (Is cancer contagious?).
But if one of the high-risk types, especially HPV 16 or 18, stays in the body for years, it can change cells. Going from infection to cancer can take about 20 years [2]. HPV causes cancer in both women and men [1, 2]:
- almost all cervical cancers
- most cancers of the anus
- some cancers of the back of the throat (tonsils and base of the tongue), penis, vagina and vulva
Worldwide, about 700,000 cancers a year are caused by HPV [12].
How well does the HPV vaccine prevent cancer?
The first HPV vaccine was licensed in 2006 [1]. It has now been given to teenagers in many countries for years, so its effect on cancer itself can be seen:
- Sweden: in a study of more than one and a half million girls and women, those vaccinated before the age of 17 had about 9 in 10 fewer cervical cancers [3].
- Scotland: no cervical cancers at all were found in women vaccinated at age 12 or 13, even in those who had only one or two doses [4].
- England: girls vaccinated at age 12 to 13 avoided nearly 9 in 10 cervical cancers [5].
The younger the age at vaccination, the greater the effect [3, 5]. The vaccine prevents infection but does not treat it, so it works best when given before sexual activity starts and before any contact with the virus [1].
| Group | Advice |
|---|---|
| Girls aged 9 to 14 | The most important group; one or two doses [1] |
| Girls and women aged 15 to 20 | One or two doses [1] |
| Women aged 21 and over | Two doses at least 6 months apart [1] |
| Boys and young men | Vaccinated in many countries; the vaccine works in them too [1, 9] |
| People with a weakened immune system (for example HIV) | At least two doses, and three if possible [1] |
The World Health Organization says one dose can be used instead of two, although this is not yet in the official product information [1]. Agree the exact schedule with your doctor.
Is the HPV vaccine safe?
Yes. Since 2006, more than 500 million doses of HPV vaccine have been given worldwide. Ongoing World Health Organization reviews have found no serious safety problem apart from very rare severe allergic reactions [1]. In a review of all the large studies, serious side effects were no more common in vaccinated people than in the comparison group [6].
- The vaccine contains no live virus and no viral DNA, so it cannot give you HPV [1].
- The most common side effect is pain, redness or swelling where the injection is given, which settles quickly [1].
- Teenagers sometimes faint after the injection, so it is best to stay seated for 15 minutes [1].
- The vaccine has not been linked to infertility, autoimmune diseases or Guillain-Barré syndrome [1].
- It is not given during pregnancy; but if someone was vaccinated without knowing she was pregnant, this is no reason to end the pregnancy. Breastfeeding is not a reason to avoid the vaccine [1].
The vaccine does not protect against every high-risk type of HPV, and many women have already been in contact with the virus before vaccination. That is why vaccinated women still need HPV tests or smear tests on schedule [1, 11]. See from what age and how often: Cancer screening.
What should I do? One important step: get your child vaccinated on time
- 1
If you have a child aged 9 to 14
Talk to your family doctor or your child's doctor about the HPV vaccine for your daughter or son. The best time is before sexual activity starts [1].
- 2
If you are 15 to 26 and have not been vaccinated
It is not too late; the vaccine still works at this age, although less well than in the early teens [1, 3]. In women vaccinated after the age of 24, the vaccine had less effect in studies [6], because at older ages many people have already been in contact with the virus [1]; if you are older, talk to your doctor about whether it would help you.
- 3
If you are a woman, do not forget cervical screening
Whether or not you have been vaccinated, have your HPV test or smear test on time [11]. See the schedule in Cancer screening.
Frequently asked questions
Up to what age can the HPV vaccine be given?
Should boys have the HPV vaccine too?
Yes; boys are vaccinated in many countries [1]. In men, HPV can cause cancers of the back of the throat, the anus and the penis [2]. In a study of more than 4,000 boys and young men, the vaccine was very good at preventing long-lasting infection and genital warts caused by the virus types in the vaccine [9].
Is one dose enough, or are two or three needed?
In two large studies in Kenya and Costa Rica, one dose of vaccine prevented infection with the most dangerous HPV types as well as two doses [7, 8]. This is why the World Health Organization considers one or two doses enough up to age 20 [1]. People with a weakened immune system need at least two doses [1]. Agree the number of doses with your doctor.
Does the HPV vaccine cause infertility?
I already have HPV or a positive test. Is the vaccine still useful?
Does the vaccine also prevent mouth and throat cancer?
Details of the evidence (for physicians)
For physicians
Population effect on invasive cancer. Sweden (Lei, NEJM 2020): 1,672,983 girls and women aged 10 to 30, 2006 to 2017, quadrivalent vaccine; 19 cancers in vaccinated vs 538 in unvaccinated women; fully adjusted IRR 0.37 (0.21 to 0.57), 0.12 (0.00 to 0.34) when vaccinated before age 17 and 0.47 (0.27 to 0.75) when vaccinated at 17 to 30 [3]. England (Falcaro, Lancet 2021): relative reduction in cervical cancer of 87% (72 to 94) in the cohort offered vaccination at 12 to 13 years, 62% at 14 to 16 and 34% at 16 to 18; CIN3 reductions of 97%, 75% and 39%, respectively [5]. Scotland (Palmer, JNCI 2024, bivalent vaccine): no invasive cancer in women vaccinated at 12 to 13, irrespective of the number of doses; at 14 to 22 years with 3 doses, incidence 3.2 vs 8.4 per 100,000 person-years in unvaccinated women [4].
Trials. Cochrane review (26 trials, 73,428 participants): in HPV-negative women aged 15 to 26, CIN2+ associated with HPV 16/18 fell from 164 to 2 per 10,000 (RR 0.01); serious adverse events similar to control (RR 0.98; 0.92 to 1.05); miscarriage RR 0.88; in women aged 24 to 45 unselected by HPV DNA status, overall CIN2+ did not differ (RR 1.04) [6]. In males aged 16 to 26, per-protocol efficacy of the quadrivalent vaccine against vaccine-type external genital lesions was 90.4% [9]. In NHANES 2011 to 2014 (ages 18 to 33), the prevalence of oral HPV 16/18/6/11 infection was 0.11% in vaccinated vs 1.61% in unvaccinated people (adjusted reduction 88.2%) [10].
Single dose. KEN SHE (Kenyan women aged 15 to 20): single-dose efficacy against persistent HPV 16/18 infection of 97.5% for both the nonavalent and bivalent vaccines [8]. ESCUDDO (Costa Rica, 20,330 girls aged 12 to 16, randomised): one dose of bivalent or nonavalent vaccine was non-inferior to two doses for preventing persistent HPV 16/18 infection; vaccine efficacy at least 97% in all four arms [7].
Schedule (WHO 2022). 9 to 20 years: one or two doses (single dose as an off-label option); 21 years and over: two doses at least 6 months apart; immunocompromised or HIV-positive: at least two doses and, where possible, three. Not recommended in pregnancy; breastfeeding is not a contraindication; observe seated for 15 minutes to prevent syncope. HPV or HIV testing before vaccination is not needed [1]. Cervical screening continues on the same schedule in vaccinated women [1, 11].
Scientific evidence
Scientific evidence
3 itemsHPV Vaccination and the Risk of Invasive Cervical Cancer
The effects of the national HPV vaccination programme in England, UK, on cervical cancer and grade 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia incidence: a register-based observational study
Efficacy of Single-Dose Human Papillomavirus Vaccination among Young African Women
Related cancer types
Related questions
References
12 referencesShow all references, 5 with a study cardClose the reference list
Numbers in the text, such as [1], refer to these sources. Sources with a “Study card” button are summarised in the site’s evidence library.
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- 8Efficacy of single-dose HPV vaccination among young African women
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- 12Global burden of cancer attributable to infections in 2018: a worldwide incidence analysis
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