CHILD HEALTH
Study recommends earlier HPV vaccination
The research found that parents were generally open to having their 9- to 10-year-old children vaccinated for HPV
September 2, 2025
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Recommending the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination to parents of 9- to 10-year-old children allowed clinicians to discuss cancer prevention and avoid the subject of sexual activity that often comes up with older age groups, new research reported by Medscape showed.
The study, published in Pediatrics, also found that parents were generally open to having their 9- to 10-year-old children vaccinated for HPV.
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the US, with approximately 42 million people currently infected. The US CDC currently recommends the HPV series vaccine as part of routine vaccination beginning at age 11 years, but states that vaccination can start at age 9 years.The vaccine is highly effective for preventing several types of cancer, including cervical and oropharyngeal cancers. Two doses are recommended for most people who start the series before age 15 years, and three doses are recommended for those who start the series after age 15 years, as well as immunocompromised individuals. Yet only 40% of children between 9 years and 17 years of age have received at least one dose.Tietbohl said her team was motivated to conduct the research by persistently low completion rates of the HPV series despite strong evidence that the vaccine is safe and highly effective at preventing cancer.