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Vaccine Preventable Disease Control
County of Los Angeles
Department of Public Health
Vaccine Preventable Disease Control Program
3530 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 700
Los Angeles, CA 90010
Phone: (213) 351-7800
Email: ip@ph.lacounty.gov
Most people infected with HPV will not have symptoms until the infection has already caused health problems.
HPV infections go away by themselves, but types of HPV infections persist longer and cause complications including warts and cancer. These infections can cause cancer of the:
It's important to have regular check-ups including a Pap smear and HPV test, to look for abnormal cells before they cause problems.
HPV infections can also cause genital warts. Genital warts are harmless growths on the skin that may appear on the vagina, vulva, cervix, penis, scrotum, or anus. Most genital warts are caused by HPV types 6 and 11 which are included in the vaccine.
If you think you may have been exposed to HPV or are showing signs of HPV infection, talk with your doctor or primary healthcare provider.
HPV is spread through skin-to-skin contact or direct contact with an infected object. In pediatrics, warts are usually seen on palms and soles of feet. In adults, the virus can also enter the body though vaginal, oral, and/or anal sex. HPV can spread through direct contact, including touching an object (such as a sex toy) that has already been contaminated with HPV. Pregnant people with genital HPV disease can spread the virus to their babies while giving birth. An infected person can spread HPV even if they do not have visible symptoms.
Condoms used consistently and correctly can lower the chances of acquiring and transmitting HPV and developing HPV-related diseases (e.g., genital warts or cervical cancer). However, because HPV can infect areas not covered by a condom, condoms might not fully protect against HPV.
Limiting the number of sex partners can also reduce the risk for HPV. However, even persons with only one lifetime sex partner can get HPV.
HPV vaccination is the most effective way to prevent severe infection and HPV-related cancers.HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections, meaning nearly all unvaccinated persons who are sexually active will get infected with HPV at some point in their life. Vaccination has also been proven to help prevent over 90% of cancers linked to HPV.
Gardasil-9 is the HPV vaccine distributed in the US. This vaccine protects against 9 types of HPV, including the ones that cause most HPV-related cancers and genital warts.
CDC recommends that adolescents 11 to 12 years of age receive two doses of Gardasil-9 6 to 12 months apart. HPV vaccine can be given as early as age 9. Early protection is key and vaccinating preteens ensures that they will be protected from HPV before being exposed to the virus. Getting vaccinated at a young age also results in a stronger immune response.
Teens and young adults who start the series later, at ages 15 through 26, need three doses of HPV vaccine.
HPV vaccination prevents more than 90% of HPV – related cancers. The CDC estimates that HPV infections that cause cancer or genital warts have dropped by 88% among teen girls and 81% among young adult women.
You should NOT get the HPV vaccine if you:
There are many places to get the Gardasil-9 vaccine. If you have insurance, talk to your doctor or check with your local pharmacy to see what vaccines are offered. Most health insurances cover the cost of all recommended vaccines for children and adults.
If you are uninsured or underinsured, there are programs available to help cover the cost of vaccines. Children who are 18 years of age or younger are eligible to receive vaccines at no cost through the Vaccines for Children (VFC) Program if they are:
Click to see if your child is eligible to receive VFC vaccines: English | Spanish
Uninsured or underinsured adults can access free or low cost vaccines at select clinics enrolled in the Vaccines for Adults (VFA) program. For more information on who is eligible, read VFA Eligibility Based on Insurance Status. You can use the following resources for more information on locating clinics:
You can also dial 2-1-1 for a list of free or low cost vaccine clinics. This includes Vaccines for Children (VFC) provider locations that serve Medi-Cal eligible children and uninsured or underinsured adults. Learn more about specific vaccine information for different age groups:
Are you not sure if you have been vaccinated against HPV or you can’t find your vaccine records?
If you need official copies of your vaccine records, or if you need to update your personal records:
HPV can infect various body sites and cause different disease based on HPV type and exposure. Some HPV types cause cutaneous infection (eg plantar warts) and some types tend to infect the anogenital epithelium causing genital warts (HPV 6 and 11) or squamous intraepithelial lesions/cancers (HPV 16, 18, 31, 33, 35, 39, 45, 51, 52, 56, 58, 59, 68, 73, and 82)
Worldwide, cervical cancer is the 4th most common cause of cancer in women. In the United States, women have more access to regular screening, early detection and treatment, but over 30,000 women are diagnosed with HPV related cancers each year. Other types of cancers prevented by HPV vaccine include:
The CDC recommends HPV vaccine (Gardasil 9®) for adolescents aged 11–12-years. HPV vaccination provides the most benefit when given before a person is exposed to HPV.
The 2–dose vaccine series can be administered to children as early as 9 years of age. Immunogenicity studies have shown that two doses of HPV vaccine given to 9–14-year-olds at least 6 months apart provided as good or better protection than three doses given to older adolescents or young adults.
A 3–dose series is recommended for people who get the first dose on or after their 15th birthday and people with certain immunocompromising conditions such as HIV, cancer, transplantation, autoimmune disease or taking immunosuppressant medications.
The HPV vaccine is highly effective. More than 98% of recipients develop protective antibodies to prevent HPV types included in the vaccines 1 month after completing the vaccine series.
Clinicians may consider discussing HPV vaccination with adults ages 27 – 45 years who are most likely to benefit from receiving the vaccine. See the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) Shared clinical decision – making FAQ.
HPV vaccine is not recommended for use during pregnancy. Vaccination should be delayed until after the pregnancy. Pregnant persons who received the HPV vaccine can contact the manufacturer at 877-888-4231.
Proper vaccine storage and handling practices play an important role. For general recommendations and guidance access the Vaccine Storage and Handling Toolkit.
Click here for more information on reporting a Vaccine Adverse Event.
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Public Health has made reasonable efforts to provide accurate translation. However, no computerized translation is perfect and is not intended to replace traditional translation methods. If questions arise concerning the accuracy of the information, please refer to the English edition of the website, which is the official version.
