September 16, 2025
Today, The University of Kansas Cancer Center along with 61 National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Cancer Centers with leading national organizations and the University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center have endorsed a joint statement urging the nation’s health care systems, physicians and other health care providers and professionals, parents, and caregivers, and the public to promote and choose human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination for cancer prevention. HPV vaccination is safe and works to prevent six types of cancer (oropharyngeal, cervical, anal, vaginal, vulvar, and penile). Recently released National Immunization Survey (NIS)-Teen data show no gains in HPV vaccination over the last few years indicating urgent action to ensure children today are protected against HPV-related cancers they may develop in adulthood.
HPV vaccination is cancer prevention with 90% of HPV-related cancers preventable through on-time HPV vaccination by the 13th birthday. In the United States (U.S.), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends routine HPV vaccination for females since 2006 and for males since 2011. Current HPV vaccination guidelines are for routine vaccination at ages 9 to 12. Catch-up HPV vaccination is recommended through age 26. Adults aged 27 through 45 should talk with their health care providers about HPV vaccination because some people who have not been vaccinated might benefit. The HPV vaccine series consists of two doses for children who get the first dose at ages 9–14, three doses for immunocompromised people, and three doses for those who start the series at age 15 or older.
According to the most recent NIS-Teen data, only 63% of boys and girls ages 13-17 and only 59% of boys and girls ages 13-15 completed the HPV vaccination series in 2024, with great variability by geographic region and locale with lower coverage among children in rural areas. Nationally, HPV vaccination coverage has stagnated for the last three years and falls short of the national Healthy People 2030 goal of 80% of children aged 13-15-years-old who are vaccinated.
HPV is common. Nearly 80 million Americans – 1 out of every 4 people – are infected with HPV, a virus that causes six types of cancers. Of those millions, more than 40,000 will be diagnosed with HPV-related cancers this year and hundreds of thousands more with pre-cancers caused by HPV. Despite those staggering figures and the availability of a vaccine to prevent HPV infections, HPV vaccination coverage remains significantly lower than other recommended vaccines for this same age group in the U.S. It is not yet known in whom HPV infection will lead to cancer, but HPV vaccination is known to protect those who are vaccinated.
HPV vaccine is safe. Vaccines, like any medicine, can have side effects. Many people who get the HPV vaccine have no side effects at all. The most common side effects are usually mild, like a sore arm from the shot. Findings from many vaccine safety monitoring systems and more than 160 studies show HPV vaccines have a favorable safety profile. Currently available scientific evidence overwhelmingly supports the safety of the HPV vaccine.
HPV vaccination is effective at preventing HPV-related infections and cancers. In the U.S., where HPV vaccination coverage remains suboptimal, gains have been observed but full population benefit not yet realized. From 2008-2022, cervical pre-cancer incidence decreased 79% and higher-grade pre-cancer incidence decreased 80% among women aged 20–24 years screened for cervical cancer, the age group most likely to have been vaccinated, according to a recent article in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
To ensure protection against HPV-related cancers and move closer to elimination of HPV cancers starting with cervical cancer as a public health concern in the U.S., urgent action is needed to prevent HPV-related cancers. HPV vaccination is the best tool in the toolbox to prevent HPV-related cancers.
The call to action comes during the back-to-school period, a time during which most children aged 9-12-years-old are vaccinated against HPV and also during Gynecologic Cancer Awareness Month, which is a time to raise awareness about gynecologic cancers such as cervical, vaginal, and vulvar caused by HPV. The organizations collectively urge the following actions:
- Health care systems’ staff and providers should immediately identify and contact parents and caregivers of age-eligible children who are due for HPV vaccination and encourage them to complete vaccinations.
- Parents and caregivers should have their age-eligible children vaccinated as soon as possible. A list of recommended vaccines is available on the CDC website and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) website.
- Talk with family members and friends about HPV vaccination. Share the facts about HPV vaccination as cancer prevention.
- Learn more about HPV vaccination from the CDC, American Cancer Society (ACS), ACS National HPV Vaccination Roundtable, and AAP.
Sixty-two NCI-Designated Cancer Centers with leading national organizations and the University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center endorse this statement and share the goal of sending a powerful message about the importance of HPV vaccination for the prevention of HPV-related cancers. HPV vaccination is safe, effective, and provides long-lasting protection against HPV-related cancers and other conditions associated with HPV.
List of NCI-Designated Cancer Centers Endorsing Statement
Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center
Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
Case Western Reserve University Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center
Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Dartmouth Cancer Center
Duke Cancer Institute
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Fred Hutch/University of Washington/Seattle Children's Cancer Consortium
Georgetown University Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center
Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center
Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center
Jefferson Health Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center
Masonic Cancer Center
Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Moffitt Cancer Center
MUSC Hollings Cancer Center
NYU Langone's Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center
O’Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center
OHSU Knight Cancer Institute
Purdue Institute for Cancer Research
Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University
Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
Rutgers Cancer Institute
Salk Cancer Center
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
Stanford Cancer Institute
Stephenson Cancer Center
The Jackson Laboratory Cancer Center
The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute
The University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
The Wistar Institute Cancer Center
UC Irvine Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center
UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center
UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
UK Markey Cancer Center
UM Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of Arizona Cancer Center
University of California Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of Colorado Cancer Center
University of Hawaii Cancer Center
University of Iowa Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of Kansas Cancer Center
University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center
University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute
UNM Comprehensive Cancer Center
UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center
UT Southwestern Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center
UVA Comprehensive Cancer Center
UW Carbone Cancer Center
VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center
Wilmot Cancer Institute
Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
Yale Cancer Center
List of National Organizations Endorsing Statement
American Association for Cancer Research
American Cancer Society
American Society of Clinical Oncology
American Society of Preventive Oncology
Association of American Cancer Institutes
Cervivor
Prevent Cancer Foundation
In addition, the University of Puerto Rico Comprehensive Cancer Center has endorsed this statement.