Leading Cancer Research Centers Reinforce Importance of Safe and Effective Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination To Prevent Cancer

National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Cancer Centers and leading national organizations have released a joint statement reinforcing the importance of safe and effective human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination to prevent cancer. Nationally, HPV vaccination coverage has stagnated and falls short of the national goals.

WASHINGTON (September 16, 2025) — Today, Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, along with 61 National Cancer Institute (NCI)-Designated Cancer Centers and leading national organizations 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 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.

NCI-Designated Cancer Centers Endorsing This 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's 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

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.