HPV Vaccine for Adults: Protection Is Still Possible
CancerCervical Cancer

Missed the HPV Vaccine? It May Not Be Too Late

Missed the HPV Vaccine? It May Not Be Too Late
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Published on December 18, 2025
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Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination isn’t just for tweens, teens, and young adults. While it’s best to get the vaccine early, many adults are surprised to learn they may still have the chance to protect themselves later in life.

In 2006, HPV vaccination was only recommended for girls and women up to age 26.

 As of 2019, however, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval was expanded to include adults — male and female — ages 27 to 45 under a shared decision-making model. That means you and your doctor decide together whether the vaccine is right for you.

 Since 2019, there’s been a sharp increase in HPV vaccination among adults in this age group.

If you’ve missed your routine HPV vaccination for any reason, you may still have the chance to get protected against future infection and HPV-related cancers.

Why HPV Vaccination Still Matters for Adults

HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States.

 Almost everyone who is sexually active will be exposed to HPV at some point. Most infections clear up on their own, but some may persist and cause cancer.
Each year in the United States, HPV causes about:

  • 11,000 cases of cervical cancer
  • 7,000 cases of anal cancer
  • 15,000 cases of mouth and throat cancer (head and neck cancer)
  • Thousands more cases of vaginal, vulvar, and penile cancers
The Gardasil 9 vaccine (also called the 9-valent HPV vaccine) protects against seven high-risk HPV types that cause the majority of these cancers, along with two types of HPV that cause genital warts.

Even if you’ve been sexually active for years, you probably haven’t been exposed to all of the virus strains that the vaccine covers.

 That means you could still get meaningful protection — even in your 30s or 40s — against HPV types you haven’t yet encountered.

For some adults, especially those with a new partner or those who may be exposed to HPV in the future, vaccination could help prevent infections that might otherwise develop into cancer years later.

HPV Vaccine Schedule

The HPV vaccine is routinely recommended at age 11 to 12, though it can be started as early as age 9.

 If someone misses this window, “catch-up” vaccination is recommended through age 26. After that (ages 27 to 45), it’s not given automatically. You and your doctor should have a conversation to decide together if it’s right for you.

The number of doses given will depend on the age when you start the vaccine series:

  • Ages 9 to 14: Two doses, spaced 6 to 12 months apart.
  • Age 15 or older: Three doses over six months.

Is HPV Vaccination Right for You?

Research has shown that HPV vaccination is safe and can still provide protection later in life.

 This doesn’t mean everyone should get it, however. Instead, you and your doctor can talk it over together, looking at the potential benefits and limitations of HPV vaccination.

You can start the conversation with your doctor for any reason, says Jessica S. Wells, PhD, RN, an associate professor of nursing and a board-certified women’s health nurse practitioner at Emory University School of Nursing in Atlanta. “It’s common for adults to go through life changes — like starting a new relationship after a divorce or shifts in a partnership — that can influence their health needs. When patients share these kinds of experiences, it opens the door to talk about how to help them stay protected, including from new HPV exposure and infection,” she says

“Our goal is to support your decision with good information,” says Dr. Wells. In practice, that means you might need to bring it up first. Not every clinician will mention HPV vaccination automatically if you’re an older adult. But if you ask, they will guide you through whether it could still make sense for you.

How to Take the First Step

If you’re curious about HPV vaccination, here are some initial steps you can take to learn more:

  1. Explore your options. Look up a trusted resource, like this free HPV vaccine decision tool (HPV Vaccine Decide) developed by researchers at The University of Texas School of Public Health, San Antonio. It can help you think through your personal situation and decide whether HPV vaccination may be right for you.
  2. Think about your vaccination history. If you’re unsure whether you’ve received the HPV vaccine, you can check your state’s immunization registry through the department of health, or ask your current and past clinics where you may have gotten vaccinated.
  3. Ask a clinician. Next time you’re at a doctor’s office or pharmacy, ask if you’re eligible. You could say: “I’m interested in the HPV vaccine. Could we go over if it’s right for me?”

The Takeaway

  • There are many types of HPV, and the vaccine can protect you from HPV types you haven’t yet been exposed to.
  • Skipping the HPV vaccine in your childhood or early 20s doesn’t mean you’ve missed your chance. If you’re between 27 and 45 and have not been fully vaccinated against HPV, you may still be able to get the vaccine.
  • Talk with your doctor or other clinician about whether you could still benefit from HPV vaccination to decide together if it makes sense for you.

FAQ

How much does it cost?

The HPV vaccine is fully covered by most private insurance plans and state Medicaid programs through age 45. If you’re uninsured, you might qualify to get the vaccine for free through Merck’s Patient Assistance Program.

Yes, you may still be eligible, even if you’re not a teen or young adult.

 If you’re curious about the vaccine, start the conversation with your clinician.
About 85 percent of people in the US will get an HPV infection at some point in their lifetime.

 Remember: HPV is common, but HPV cancers don’t have to be.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Markowitz LE et al. Quadrivalent Human Papillomavirus Vaccine: Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. March 23, 2007.
  2. Meites E et al. Human Papillomavirus Vaccination for Adults: Updated Recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. August 16, 2019.
  3. Suk R et al. Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Administration Trends Among Commercially Insured US Adults Aged 27-45 Years Before and After Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices Recommendation Change, 2007-2020. JAMA Health Forum. December 16, 2022.
  4. About Genital HPV Infection. U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. January 31, 2025.
  5. Cancers Linked With HPV Each Year. U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. June 1, 2025.
  6. Gardasil 9 Vaccine Protects Against Additional HPV Types. National Cancer Institute. March 2, 2015.
  7. What I Tell Every Patient About the HPV Vaccine. Every Stage Health. November 2024.
  8. Evidence to Recommendations for HPV Vaccination of Adults, Ages 27 Through 45 Years. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. August 7, 2024.
  9. Clinical Overview of HPV. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. July 9, 2024.
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Kara Smythe, MD

Medical Reviewer

Kara Smythe, MD, has been working in sexual and reproductive health for over 10 years. Dr. Smythe is a board-certified fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and her interests include improving maternal health, ensuring access to contraception, and promoting sexual health.

She graduated magna cum laude from Florida International University with a bachelor's degree in biology and earned her medical degree from St. George’s University in Grenada. She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. She worked in Maine for six years, where she had the privilege of caring for an underserved population.

Smythe is also passionate about the ways that public health policies shape individual health outcomes. She has a master’s degree in population health from University College London and recently completed a social science research methods master's degree at Cardiff University. She is currently working on her PhD in medical sociology. Her research examines people's experiences of accessing, using, and discontinuing long-acting reversible contraception.

When she’s not working, Smythe enjoys dancing, photography, and spending time with her family and her cat, Finnegan.

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Ryan Suk

Ryan Suk, PhD

Author

Ryan Suk, PhD, is a health economist and decision scientist by training. She is currently an assistant professor on the tenure track at Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, with a secondary appointment in the Department of Health Policy and Management at Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University. Suk also serves as a faculty consultant for Health Economics and Outcomes Research at the Winship Center for Cancer Health Equity Research of the Winship Cancer Institute.

Her primary research centers on the prevention and control of HPV-associated cancers and the optimization of patient-centered integrative and palliative oncology in cancer survivorship. Suk focuses on using real-world data, decision modeling, and community-partnered methods to evaluate healthcare efficiency, inform individual health decision-making, and guide implementation strategies, with particular emphasis on under-recognized populations.

Suk received a bachelor's degree in business administration from Korea University, a master's degree in economics from the University of Utah, and after completing her PhD coursework at the University of Florida, a doctoral degree in health economics from the University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHealth) Houston School of Public Health. Before joining Emory, she served as an assistant professor at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy and the UTHealth Houston School of Public Health.

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