Get Your Child the HPV Vaccine
The Basics: Overview
All pre-teens need to get the HPV vaccine series when they are age 11 or 12.
What is HPV?
HPV (human papillomavirus) is a very common infection that can cause cancer. Nearly 80 million people in the United States have HPV. That's about 1 out of 4 Americans.
HPV infections can cause:
- Cervical cancer
- Cancer inside the vagina (vaginal cancer) or around the opening of the vagina (vulvar cancer)
- Cancer of the penis
- Cancer of the anus (anal cancer)
- Cancer of the back of the throat (oropharynx cancer)
- Warts in the genital area
The good news is that the HPV vaccine can prevent many of these health problems. Learn more about HPV.