Should Kids & Teens Who Aren't Sexually Active Be Vaccinated Against HPV?
Medically reviewed by: Elana Pearl Ben-Joseph, MD
My Kids Aren't Sexually Active. Why Would They Need the HPV Vaccine?
The HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine is recommended for girls and boys both. It helps to protect them from HPV-related cancers and genital warts.
The vaccine has the best chance of protecting against infection if a person gets the series of shots before becoming sexually active. Here's what doctors recommend:
- For kids and teens ages 9–14, the HPV vaccine is given in 2 shots over a 6- to 12-month period.
- For teens and young adults (ages 15–26), it's given in 3 shots over a 6-month period. People with weak immune systems also get 3 shots, including those 9–14 years old.