Should Adults Receive the HPV Vaccine?

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common sexually transmitted infection. In many cases, an HPV infection will resolve on its own without causing any health problems. However, some types of HPV can cause genital warts or cancer.

An effective HPV vaccine is available. In its current form, the vaccination provides protection against many strains of HPV, two of which are at the root of approximately 70 percent of all cervical cancer cases, two of which cause 90 percent of all genital wart cases, and others that can lead to cancers of the cervix, vagina, vulva, penis, anus, and throat.

Who should get an HPV vaccination?

In order to achieve maximum effectiveness, the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) recommend that the HPV vaccine be administered prior to any HPV exposure. Because an HPV infection usually occurs during one of an individual’s first few sexual encounters, people should ideally receive all recommended doses of the vaccine before engaging in any type of sexual activity. This forms the basis for the current CDC recommendation that all children receive two doses of the HPV vaccine at age 11 or 12. The doses should be spaced 6-12 months apart; children who receive their two shots less than five months apart are advised to receive a third dose.

With all of that said, the optimal time to receive the HPV vaccine is determined by a person’s age rather than his or her sexual experience. Even though an individual has already engaged in sexual activities, he or she may not have been exposed to all of the HPV strains that the vaccine protects against. Therefore, some adults can potentially benefit from vaccination. However, because the safety and effectiveness of the HPV vaccine have not yet been fully evaluated in adults older than 26, the CDC do not currently recommend administration after age 26 (this recommendation may change based on the outcome of further research).

If you have any questions about the HPV vaccine, you are welcome to talk with a physician at South Tampa Immediate Care in Tampa, FL. While we do not carry the HPV vaccine at our urgent care center, we will be happy to refer you to a medical professional who does.