JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville pediatrician says almost everyone is exposed to the human papillomavirus (HPV) s and it's extremely important to get your child vaccinated. The number of American teens getting vaccinated for the HPV virus is increasing, but the Center for Disease Control reports millions of teens are still not getting the vaccine.
Dr. Jennifer Knight is a pediatrician with UF Health. She talks to her patients' parents about the vaccine at age 11. The same age they get the more common Tdap vaccine (Tetanus, Diphteria, Pertusis).
"We want to give a child the best protection," said Knight. "The most protection long before it ever becomes an issue or before they're ever exposed. Similar to how we give the other routine vaccinations."
About half of American teens are still not getting vaccinated. HVP 
can lead to cervical cancer, although it doesn't in all cases. Knight said four to five thousand women die a year from HPV related cancers.
"Even though it's not a new vaccine, it's newer than the ones you and I received in childhood. So for parents in our age group they're a little iffy because they feel like it's new and maybe it hasn't been around long enough to see if there are any adverse affects. Studies show that there are not," Knight explained.
The HPV vaccine has been in use for about a
decade. It's a vaccine that consists of three shots spread out over six months.
"I think it's important to think about it as cancer prevention which is really what it is," added Knight.
Right now, the HPV vaccine is not given to men over 21 or women over age 26. So who can get it? According to the CDC:
- All kids who are 11 or 12 years old should get the three-dose series of HPV vaccine to protect against HPV.
- Teen boys and girls who did not start or finish the HPV vaccine series when they were younger should get it now.
- Young women can get HPV vaccine through age 26,
- Young men can get vaccinated through age 21.
- The vaccine is also recommended for any man who has sex with men through age 26.
- It's also recommended for men with compromised immune systems (including HIV) through age 26, if they did not get HPV vaccine when they were younger.
Read the CDC's questions and answers about HPV and the vaccine.