HPV Vaccination Guidelines for 11-Year-Old Female and 17-Year-Old Male
Both the 11-year-old female and 17-year-old male should receive the HPV vaccine, with the 11-year-old female requiring a 2-dose schedule and the 17-year-old male requiring a 3-dose schedule to optimize protection against HPV-related cancers and diseases. 1
Recommendations for 11-Year-Old Female
Vaccination Schedule
- The 11-year-old female should receive the HPV vaccine as part of routine vaccination at this age 2
- She qualifies for the 2-dose schedule since she is under 15 years of age 3
- The doses should be administered at 0 and 6-12 months apart 1
- The 6-month interval between doses is preferable as it produces a more robust immune response than shorter intervals 2
Vaccine Type
- The 9-valent HPV vaccine (9vHPV, Gardasil-9) should be administered as it is currently the only available HPV vaccine in the United States 2
- This vaccine provides protection against HPV types 6,11,16,18,31,33,45,52, and 58 2
Administration
- The vaccine should be administered intramuscularly, preferably in the deltoid muscle 1
- It can be administered during the same visit as other age-appropriate vaccines 2
- Consider having the patient sit or lie down for 15 minutes after administration due to potential for syncope (fainting) in adolescents 2
Recommendations for 17-Year-Old Male
Vaccination Schedule
- The 17-year-old male should receive the HPV vaccine as catch-up vaccination 2
- He requires a 3-dose schedule (0,2,6 months) since he is over 15 years of age 3
- Vaccination is recommended for males through age 21 years who have not been vaccinated previously or who have not completed the series 2
Vaccine Type
- The 9-valent HPV vaccine (9vHPV, Gardasil-9) should be administered 2
- This vaccine has been shown to be effective in males, with studies demonstrating adequate immune responses 4
Administration
- The vaccine should be administered intramuscularly, preferably in the deltoid muscle 1
- It can be administered during the same visit as other age-appropriate vaccines 2
- Consider having the patient sit or lie down for 15 minutes after administration due to potential for syncope (fainting) in adolescents 2
Important Considerations
Efficacy and Timing
- HPV vaccination is most effective when administered before potential exposure to HPV through sexual contact 2
- Antibody responses are highest in younger age groups (9-15 years) 2
- For the 17-year-old male, while vaccination at older ages may be less effective in lowering cancer risk, it still provides significant protection 2
Contraindications and Precautions
- The vaccine should not be given to individuals with a history of immediate hypersensitivity to yeast or any vaccine component 2
- Vaccination should be deferred for individuals with moderate or severe acute illness 2
- Pregnancy testing is not required before starting HPV vaccination, but the vaccine is not recommended during pregnancy 1
Follow-up
- Schedule follow-up appointments for subsequent doses at the time of initial vaccination 1
- If doses are administered at shorter-than-recommended intervals, they should be readministered 1
- If the vaccination schedule is interrupted, it does not need to be restarted - simply continue where left off 1
Rationale for Vaccination
- HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, with approximately 14 million new infections occurring annually 2
- The lifetime risk of acquiring an HPV infection is >80% 2
- High-risk HPV types are responsible for virtually all cases of cervical cancer and a large percentage of anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers in both females and males 2
- More than 26,000 new cases of HPV-related cancers are diagnosed annually in the United States 2
- Vaccination at ages 9-12 years has shown stronger immune responses compared to vaccination at older ages 2, 5
By following these guidelines, both the 11-year-old female and 17-year-old male will receive appropriate protection against HPV-related diseases, with optimal timing for the female and still significant benefit for the male despite his older age.