children smiling together for the camera

Prevent 6 Cancers with the HPV Vaccine

HPV, or human papillomavirus, is a common virus that can cause 6 types of cancer. More than 30,000 new HPV cancers are diagnosed in the United States every year.
The HPV vaccine can protect your child's future health by helping to prevent these cancers later in life.
The HPV vaccine is safe, works well, and provides long-lasting protection against HPV cancers.
The American Cancer Society recommends vaccinating boys and girls between ages 9 and 12 to help prevent more than 90% of HPV cancers when they are older. Teens and young adults ages 13 through 26 who have not been vaccinated, or who have not gotten all recommended doses, should get vaccinated as soon as possible.
Vaccination of young adults will not prevent as many HPV cancers as vaccination of children and teens.

caucasian mother and son talking with doctor

Understand the Facts

Learn about HPV, HPV cancers, and how the HPV vaccine prevents certain cancers. Write down any questions or concerns you have.

Start the Conversation

Ask your child’s doctor or nurse about the HPV vaccine through their patient portal or at your child’s next well visit. Bring a list of your questions and concerns to talk about during the visit.

Don’t Wait to Vaccinate

HPV vaccination works best when children get it between ages 9 and 12 years. Getting vaccinated during the recommended ages gives children the best protection against HPV cancers.

The Truth About HPV

Graphic showing that more than 22,000 HPV cancers are diagnosed in women and nearly 17,000 cases of HPV cancers are diagnosed in men in the continental US

More than 39,000 new HPV cancers are diagnosed in the US every year.

Image of 10 stick figures with 8 of the 10 colored in to display the risk of HPV visually.

HPV is very common. At least 8 out of 10 people will get HPV at some point in their lives. Latest reports show almost 43 million people in the US have HPV.

Boy and girl holding a shield with the number of HPV cancers that can be prevented through vaccination (90%)

HPV vaccination can prevent more than 90% of HPV cancers when given at the recommended ages.

African American doctor speaking with patient

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Educational Materials

Download these materials to learn more about the HPV vaccine and how it can help protect your kids.

This flyer highlights key facts about HPV, its connection to preventable cancers, and vaccination guidelines to protect kids today.

HPV Protecting Our Children From HPV Cancers Thumbnail

One-page infographic illustrating key facts you should know about HPV vaccination.

One-page infographic showing why it is important to vaccinate children between the ages of 9 and 12.

American Cancer Society Cervical Cancer and HPV Vaccine Guidelines

Learn more about the American Cancer Society’s HPV vaccine use guidelines and commitment to eliminate cervical cancer.

The American Cancer Society's Mission: HPV Cancer Free is a public health initiative to eliminate vaccine preventable HPV cancers as a public health problem, starting with cervical cancer. To do this we are:

Facilitating provider training and education.
Engaging critical stakeholders and partners to drive vaccination rate improvement.
Influencing stakeholders to use relevant data to drive planning and impact.
Leading and supporting HPV vaccination interventions with health systems.
Increasing parental knowledge about the vaccine through news, digital, social media platforms, and by mobilizing our ACS volunteer network and ACS CAN volunteers to share science-based information about the vaccine.