Are Your Kids Protected from HPV-related Cancers?

Protect your sons and daughters from human papillomavirus (HPV)-related cancer and other diseases associated with HPV by getting them the HPV vaccine. It takes 3 shots to complete the series, so make sure they get all 3 to be protected.

It's easy to get very busy with school, activities, work, and all of the juggling that parents of preteens and teens do every day. For the sake of your children's health, take the time to get them the life-saving HPV vaccine to protect against HPV-related cancers. Each year United States, about 18,000 HPV-associated cancers occur in women and cervical cancer is the most common. About 7,000 HPV-associated cancers occur each year in men in the United States and oropharyngeal cancers are the most common. Anal cancer caused by HPV affects both men and women, with more women than men diagnosed each year. If we protect our boys and girls now, we could reduce disease and cancer due to HPV.

What is HPV vaccine?

This is a safe and effective vaccine given in a series of 3 shots over about a six-month period. The second shot is given 1 or 2 months after the first, and the third shot is given 6 months after the first shot. It is very important to complete all of the shots to be fully protected. More than 40 million doses of HPV vaccine have been safely given across the country.

Which girls should get HPV vaccine?

If your son or daughter is age 11 or 12 years, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and the Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine (SAHM) recommend you vaccinate now to protect him or her against HPV-related cancer.

If your son or daughter is older than 11 or 12 and has not started these shots, it's not too late to schedule an appointment to begin the series.

How can I learn more about HPV and HPV vaccine?

About 20 million people, most in their late teens and early 20s, are infected with HPV, the type of virus that causes cervical cancer. That's why it's important to protect preteen and teen boys and girls early through vaccination. To learn more about HPV vaccine, visit HPV Vaccine for Preteens and Teens.

To learn about who should and should not get this vaccine, when they should be vaccinated, and the risks and benefits of this vaccine, consult the two HPV vaccine information statements.

Use any appointment to get vaccinated!

Take advantage of any visit to the doctor—such as an annual health checkup or physicals for sports, camp, or college—to ask the doctor about what shots your preteens and teens need.

Families who need help paying for vaccines should ask their health care provider about Vaccines for Children (VFC). The VFC program provides vaccines at no cost to uninsured and underinsured children younger than 19 years. For help in finding a local health care provider who participates in the program, parents can call 800-CDC-INFO or go to www.cdc.gov/vaccines.

More Information

• HPV Vaccines for Preteens and Teens
• Information about the HPV Vaccine
• Vaccines for Preteens and Teens
• Information for Parents about Preteen and Teen Vaccines
• Resources for Health Professionals about Preteen and Teen Vaccines