HPV vaccine: Help your kids prevent cancer

If there were a breast cancer vaccine, would you get it? For most people, the answer is a resounding yes. 

Lois Ramondetta, M.D., professor in Gynecologic Oncology and Reproductive Medicine at MD Anderson, says you should feel the same about the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.

"It has the ability to eradicate some types of cancer. Parents shouldn’t think twice about vaccinating their kids.”

The HPV vaccine prevents infection from the strains of HPV that cause more than 70% of all cervical, anal and oropharyngeal cancers, precancerous cervical lesions and genital warts.

All males and females ages 9–26 should get the HPV vaccine. It is most effective when given at ages 11–12. Unvaccinated men and women ages 27–45 can also get the HPV vaccine and should talk to their doctor about the benefits of the vaccine.

Here's what our experts want you to know about the vaccine.

The HPV vaccine is effective

“Nearly 80% of people will get exposed to HPV at some point in their lifetime,” says Erich Sturgis, M.D., professor in Head and Neck Surgery and Epidemiology at MD Anderson. “For kids, getting the HPV vaccine helps prevent cancer later in life.”

Since the HPV vaccine became widely available in 2006, HPV infections have dropped by more than half among teenage girls ages 14 to 19 in the United States. Ultimately, that will mean fewer cancer diagnoses.

The vaccine is most effective if given before HPV exposure. “The vaccine prevents infection. So, it won’t help if a person is already infected, and it can’t be used to treat infection,” Ramondetta says. “Plus, at age 11 to 12 the immune system is at its best to respond to the vaccine.”

“Only about 20% of boys under age 18 are getting vaccinated, compared to 50% of girls,” Ramondetta says. “The effect is we’re seeing an epidemic of HPV-related oropharyngeal cancers in middle-age men in the U.S.” 

The more males and females that receive the vaccine, the less HPV spreads in both.

Complete the two-shot series

The HPV vaccine is given as a series of two shots over six months. Your child must complete the two-shot series for maximum protection from cancer. 

“Only one in three girls and fewer than one in 10 boys receive both doses,” Sturgis says. “That has to change for the HPV vaccine to be effective.”

Need help remembering your child’s next shot? Use this chart to track your child’s HPV vaccination dates.

Side effects are minimal

The HPV vaccine side effects are similar to any other vaccine. Most occur at the site of the shot, and may include:

• Swelling
• Pain
• Redness
• Muscle soreness
• Fever

The few reported serious side effects include fainting, dizziness, nausea, headaches and skin rash. "There’s no scientifically valid evidence that the vaccine causes any other medical condition, such as autism,” says Sturgis.

It’s effective for 10 years

“The HPV vaccine will stay effective for at least 10 years,” Ramondetta says. Doctors don’t yet know if people will eventually need a booster shot.

Researchers are still following the girls and women who were part of the first studies to learn more about the vaccine’s long-term effectiveness.

Get help to cover vaccine costs

Don’t let finances keep your kids from getting this potentially life-saving vaccine. If you don’t have insurance or your insurance doesn’t cover the vaccine cost, there are ways you can still get it for your kids.

Kids ages 18 and younger can get the HPV vaccine for free through the Affordable Care Act. They also may be eligible to receive it for free through the Vaccines for Children program.

Some states or counties provide free or low-cost vaccines at public health clinics for people whose health insurance doesn’t cover them. The pharmaceutical companies who make the vaccines also may have programs to reduce costs.

HPV vaccine is the right choice

It’s important to remember that no vaccine is 100% effective, and the HPV vaccine doesn’t cover all forms of the virus. But, it does cover the types that cause more than half of cervical cancers.

“Parents need to understand the HPV vaccine shouldn’t be about sex or your child’s sexual activity. It’s a health vaccine to prevent cancer,” Ramondetta says. So, don’t wait until it’s too late to vaccinate your child.