Women Vaccinated Against HPV In Childhood Had Near-Zero Cervical Cancer Deaths, Study Finds
Pediatricians explain the latest research on the HPV vaccine and how it protects children from cervical cancer and other cancers later in life.
Twenty years after the HPV vaccine was first introduced in the U.S., a new study offers the strongest evidence yet of the vaccine’s life-saving potential. The study followed a cohort of women aged 20 to 24 between the years of 2020 and 2024, and found that during that time, no cervical cancer deaths occurred among those who had received the HPV vaccine at ages 12 to 13. Women who received the vaccine later as teenagers (during the catch-up program for 14- to 18-year-olds) also experienced large reductions in cervical cancer deaths.
“With falling HPV vaccine rates and growing vaccine hesitancy, this study is particularly important because it reinforces vaccination as a cancer preventing public health initiative,” says Dr. Lisa S. Ipp, a pediatrician and adolescent medicine specialist at NewYork/Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a common virus that can cause six types of cancer, and the most prevalent is cervical cancer. In the U.S., nearly 13,500 new cases of cervical cancer will be diagnosed and 4,200 women will die of the disease in 2026, the American Cancer Society estimates.
“Aside from screenings for cervical cancer, there are no routine tests for other HPV-related cancers, and as a result, HPV-related cancers often aren’t detected until somebody has symptoms,” says Dr. Ashley Stephens, a pediatrician at the NewYork-Presbyterian Ambulatory Care Network. “That’s why it’s really important for people to get the HPV vaccine, ideally before they’re ever exposed to HPV. Getting vaccinated can prevent 90% of cancers caused by HPV.”
Health Matters spoke with Dr. Stephens and Dr. Ipp to learn more about how the HPV vaccine works, who it’s recommended for and why getting vaccinated can save lives.
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What is HPV and who does it affect?
Dr. Ipp: HPV is a common virus that enters the body through tiny breaks in the skin or mucous membranes. In the vast majority of cases, the virus is cleared. However, if the virus persists, it invades local cells, altering their growth and potentially leading to warts or precancerous changes over years or decades.
Dr. Stephens: HPV can infect anybody, regardless of gender. More than 80% of people will be infected with the virus at some point in their lives. While most infections clear on their own, some people will develop cancer as a result.
The problem is that people usually don’t know when they have been infected because most of the time you don’t have any symptoms, and HPV-related cancers are often diagnosed when people are in their 40s, 50s, 60s and even older.
What cancers are linked to HPV infection, and how many people are affected?
Dr. Stephens: Every year in the U.S., there are about 27,000 new cases of cancer caused by HPV in women and about 23,000 in men, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
HPV causes almost all cervical cancer cases, the most common HPV-associated cancer in women, and also cancer of the vagina and the vulva — the external genitals.
Adults with male genitalia can get penile cancer from HPV.
And all adults can get anal cancer and throat cancer caused by HPV.
How does HPV spread?
Dr. Ipp: HPV is most commonly spread during vaginal or anal sexual activity. It also spreads through close skin-to-skin touching during close physical contact. A person with HPV can pass the infection to someone even if they have no signs or symptoms.
When Should My Child Get the HPV Vaccine?
Dr. Ipp: It’s a misconception that people should wait until they are sexually active to receive the vaccine.
Vaccinating children at younger ages and before they become sexually active, at age 12-13 and even as early as 9 years old is the most important key to cancer prevention from HPV infections.
Dr. Stephens: We have found that younger people have a better immune response, meaning they generate higher levels of antibodies to protect them from the virus. The vaccine is also strongly recommended for people up to age 26 and can be given up to age 45, but patients should discuss the benefits of vaccination at an older age with their doctor.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends starting the vaccine series between ages 9 and 12. If they have missed this window, “catch-up” vaccination is still recommended up to age 18.
The HPV vaccine is administered in two to three doses, depending on the patient’s age:
- Ages 9-14: 2 doses (must be administered at least 5 months apart)
- Ages 15 and up and for immunocompromised persons: 3 doses (doses 1 and 2 must be administered at least 4 weeks apart; doses 2 and 3 must be administered at least 12 weeks apart; doses 1 and 3 must be administered at least 5 months apart)
What are the symptoms of HPV?
Dr. Ipp: Most people with HPV never develop symptoms or health problems from it.
In most cases (9 out of 10), HPV goes away on its own within about two years without health problems. When HPV does not go away, it can cause medical issues like genital warts and cancer. Patients should alert their healthcare provider if they notice warts or any unusual lesions in their genital area, mouth or throat.
How is HPV diagnosed?
Dr. Ipp: A healthcare professional might be able to diagnose HPV infection by examining warts. In females, a pap smear is performed to take a sample of cells from the cervix and look for abnormal cells and/or cell changes. These cells can be tested for HPV, specifically looking for the “high risk” types that cause cancers and pre-cancers.
How does the vaccine work and how effective is it?
Dr. Stephens: The HPV vaccine contains particles that look like the HPV virus, which prompt your child’s body to generate antibodies that protect them from an infection if they’re exposed to HPV in the future. A person cannot get HPV infection from vaccination.
The vaccine is very effective in reducing HPV-related cancers, particularly if people get it when they’re young. An additional study, this one from the American Cancer Society, found that cervical cancer rates dropped 65% among women ages 20 to 24 in the U.S. from 2012 through 2019 — they were the first group to receive the vaccine when it was introduced.
Since the vaccine protects against most but not all the types of HPV that can cause cervical cancer, vaccination still has to be combined with Pap smears and/or HPV tests to combat cervical cancer, starting in one’s early 20s.
How safe is the vaccine and what are its side effects?
Dr. Stephens: It is very safe. Side effects can include pain, redness, or swelling at the injection site, fever, fatigue, headaches, nausea and muscle pain.
The benefits of vaccination outweigh the temporary, mild side effects.
How do I prepare my child for getting vaccinated when the time comes?
Dr. Stephens: A lot of kids have heard about cancer before or had a family member affected by it. In my practice, kids will say, “I don’t want a needle.” But when you say, “This is a vaccine that prevents cancer,” many of them say, “Oh, then fine.”
With any vaccine, I reassure the child that it’ll be really quick. If they need it, we can give them pain medication for later if they develop any side effects.
Why are some parents hesitant about the HPV vaccine?
Dr. Stephens: Studies show that some parents worry about the vaccine’s safety, or they are worried that their child will become sexually active, or that the vaccine will affect their child’s fertility — but research shows that these concerns do not occur.
I oversee a social media campaign — @ENDHPVNYC — made by teens for teens to counter this misinformation and promote positive, factually correct information about the HPV vaccine. In addition, I give talks to physicians and community members about the risks of HPV and the importance of the HPV vaccine.
My hope is that we can get most kids vaccinated for HPV so that we can reduce and even eliminate HPV-related cancers in the future, as is happening in places like Australia. It’s crucial for pediatricians to take the time to explain to parents why the HPV vaccine is important for their child’s health.
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