Human papillomavirus infection is caused by a virus that can cause warts or certain types of cancer. The human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines help protect against infection by the strains of HPV that are most likely to cause the following:
Cervical cancer, vaginal cancer, and vulvar cancer in women
Penile cancer in men
For more information, see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) HPV vaccine information statement.
Vaccine Type
The HPV vaccines are recombinant, which means they contain only certain parts of the HPV virus. These vaccines contain a harmless version of the virus's protein that is manufactured in a laboratory and is recombined with other substances. The body's immune system is then able to recognize and fight the virus protein if a person becomes infected (see Active immunization). The vaccines do not contain any live virus and thus cannot cause HPV infection.
There are 3 vaccines for HPV:
Nine-valent: Protects against 9 types of HPV
Quadrivalent: Protects against 4 types of HPV
Bivalent: Protects against 2 types of HPV
All 3 HPV vaccines protect against the 2 types of HPV (types 16 and 18) that cause about 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of anal cancers.
The 9-valent and quadrivalent vaccines also protect against the 2 types of HPV (types 6 and 11) that cause more than 90% of genital warts. Only the 9-valent vaccine and quadrivalent vaccine are recommended for boys and men.
Only the 9-valent vaccine is currently available in the United States.
Dose of and Recommendations for HPV Vaccine
All HPV vaccines are injected into a muscle. Two or 3 doses are given depending on the vaccine, the person's age, and the health of their immune system.
If the first dose is given at age 9 to 14 years, a second and final dose is given 6 to 12 months later.
If the first dose is given at age 15 years or older, 3 doses are given over a period of months.
People who should get this vaccine
HPV vaccine is a routine childhood vaccination. Various government or health care professional organizations have published recommendations for who should be given COVID-19 vaccines, and these recommendations may vary (see also CDC: Recommended Immunizations for Children 7–18 Years Old, United States, 2025, CDC: Recommended Immunizations for Adults Aged 19 Years and Older, United States, 2025, and American Academy of Pediatrics [AAP]: Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule for Ages 18 Years or Younger).
Recommendations for who should get the vaccine include the following:
CDC recommendations: All people at age 11 or 12 years (can start at age 9; recommended to start at age 9 if there is a history of sexual abuse or assault), all previously unvaccinated or not adequately vaccinated people through age 26 years, and some adults ages 27 to 45 years (after discussing with a health care professional their risk of a new HPV infection and the benefits of vaccination for them)
AAP recommendations: All people between the ages of 9 and 12 years (age to start is based on when a pediatric health care professional advises a child is able to receive the vaccine and to return for appointments to complete the series of injections) and previously unvaccinated or not adequately vaccinated people up through age 18
People who have a condition that weakens their immune system, including HIV infection, should receive 3 doses of vaccine regardless of their age when the first dose is given
People who should not get this vaccine
People who have had a serious, life-threatening allergic reaction (such as an anaphylactic reaction) after receiving a dose of or who are allergic to any component in an HPV vaccine should not receive it. For example, people who are very allergic to yeast should not receive HPV vaccine because yeast is used to make the vaccine.
People should not receive HPV vaccine during a pregnancy.
If people have a temporary illness, doctors usually wait to give the vaccine until the illness resolves (see also CDC: Who Should NOT Get Vaccinated With These Vaccines?).
Side Effects of HPV Vaccine
Common side effects include the following:
Soreness, swelling, pain, redness, itching, and bruising at the injection site
Fever
Nausea
Dizziness
For more information about side effects, see the package inserts.
More Information
The following English-language resources may be useful. Please note that The Manual is not responsible for the content of these resources.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): HPV vaccine information statement
CDC: Recommended Immunizations for Children 7–18 Years Old, United States, 2025
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP): Recommended Child and Adolescent Immunization Schedule for Ages 18 Years or Younger
European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC): Human Papillomavirus Infection: Recommended vaccinations
