Vaccination Recommendations for a 25-Year-Old
A healthy 25-year-old who has not been previously vaccinated should receive 3 doses of HPV vaccine (at 0,1-2, and 6 months) and does not require routine meningococcal vaccination unless specific risk factors are present. 1
HPV Vaccination
For a 25-year-old, HPV vaccination is recommended as a 3-dose series regardless of sex, as this age falls within the catch-up vaccination window. 1
Dosing Schedule
- First dose: Given at initial visit 1
- Second dose: Administered 1-2 months after the first dose (minimum interval of 4 weeks) 1
- Third dose: Given 6 months after the first dose and at least 16 weeks after the second dose (minimum interval of 12 weeks) 1
Sex-Specific Considerations
- Females aged 13-26 years: Can receive 2vHPV, 4vHPV, or 9vHPV if not previously vaccinated 1
- Males aged 13-21 years: Routine vaccination is recommended if not previously vaccinated 1
- Males aged 22-26 years: May be vaccinated (permissive recommendation, not routine) 1
Important Caveats
- Men who have sex with men through age 26 years should receive HPV vaccination if not previously vaccinated 1
- Immunocompromised persons (including those with HIV) through age 26 years should receive vaccination if not previously vaccinated 1
- Pregnancy is not a contraindication to starting the series, but if pregnancy is discovered after initiation, the remaining doses should be delayed until after pregnancy completion 1
Meningococcal Vaccination
For a healthy 25-year-old without specific risk factors, routine meningococcal vaccination is NOT recommended. 1, 2
When Meningococcal Vaccination IS Required
MenACWY vaccination (1 dose) is indicated for: 1
- First-year college students aged ≤21 years living in residence halls who have not received a dose on or after their 16th birthday 1
- Military recruits 1
- Travelers to hyperendemic or epidemic areas 1
- Microbiologists routinely exposed to Neisseria meningitidis 1, 2
MenACWY vaccination (2 doses, 2 months apart) PLUS MenB vaccination is required for: 1, 2
- Persons with anatomical or functional asplenia 1, 2
- Persons with persistent complement component deficiencies 1, 2
- Persons receiving complement inhibitor therapy (eculizumab or ravulizumab) 1, 2
MenB Vaccination Considerations
For healthy young adults aged 16-23 years (preferred age 16-18 years), MenB vaccination may be administered based on shared clinical decision-making, but this is NOT a routine recommendation. 1, 2
If MenB vaccination is pursued, two options exist: 1, 2
- MenB-4C: 2-dose series at least 1 month apart 1, 2
- MenB-FHbp: 2-dose series at 0 and 6 months for healthy adolescents, OR 3-dose series at 0,1-2, and 6 months for high-risk persons 1, 2, 3
Critical Pitfall to Avoid
Do not confuse the permissive recommendation for MenB in healthy young adults (aged 16-23 years) with the mandatory recommendation for high-risk individuals. 2 The evidence shows that college students actually have a lower risk of serogroup B disease than the general population of similar age, and approximately only 50-60 cases occur annually in adolescents and young adults aged 11-24 years in the United States. 2 At age 25, even the permissive recommendation for healthy individuals no longer applies, though off-label use is possible if specific risk factors exist. 1, 2
Summary of Total Doses
For a previously unvaccinated healthy 25-year-old:
- HPV vaccine: 3 doses (mandatory for females through age 26; permissive for males aged 22-26) 1
- Meningococcal vaccines: 0 doses (unless specific risk factors present) 1, 2
Total: 3 shots for HPV vaccination over 6 months, with no routine meningococcal vaccination required.