From the Research
You can age out of eligibility for the HPV vaccine at 27 years old in most cases, but it may still be considered for individuals up to 45 years old after discussing individual benefits with a healthcare provider. The HPV vaccine is recommended for routine vaccination at age 11-12 years but can be given starting at age 9 1. For those who didn't get vaccinated on schedule, catch-up vaccination is recommended for everyone through age 26 2, 3. The standard regimen consists of two doses for those who start before their 15th birthday (given 6-12 months apart) or three doses for those who start at age 15 or older (given at 0,1-2, and 6 months) 3, 4.
Some key points to consider:
- The vaccine works best when given before any exposure to HPV through sexual activity, which is why it's targeted to younger age groups 2, 5.
- The vaccine protects against HPV types that cause most cervical cancers and several other cancers, as well as genital warts 2, 5.
- For adults aged 27-45, the vaccine is not routinely recommended but may be considered after a discussion with a healthcare provider about individual benefits, as most adults have already been exposed to HPV 5.
- Recent studies have shown that two doses of the 9vHPV vaccine may elicit similar responses to three doses in individuals 15-26 years old 4.
Overall, the HPV vaccine is a safe and highly effective way to prevent cervical cancer, and its strongest predictor of vaccine uptake is practitioner recommendation 5.