HPV Vaccination Resources

To help protect against cancers later in life, it is important to increase HPV vaccination rates in adolescents starting at age 9. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, HPV vaccination is routinely recommended at age 11 or 12, but the vaccine can be given starting at age 9.¹ The Pennsylvania Cancer Coalition cites the following potential benefits of initiating the HPV vaccine series at age 9.²

• More time to complete the series by age 13
• Strong immune response to the HPV vaccine
• Increased likelihood of vaccinating before the first HPV exposure
• Fewer questions about sexual activity by parents and guardians
• Fewer requests for only vaccines that are “required” for school
• Fewer shots per visit
• Highly acceptable to systems, providers, and parents

You can use these resources from the American Cancer Society National HPV Vaccination Roundtable to support your efforts to begin recommending HPV vaccination at age 9:

• HPV Vaccination Starting at age 9
• Rural Disparities in HPV Vaccination
• 2025 HPV HealthcarePartner CTA 2 20 25fv

As your partner in care, UPMC Health Plan is also here as a resource for you. If you have questions about this effort or ways your practice can help achieve goals around it, please contact your physician account executive or call Provider Services at 1-866-918-1595.

UPMC Health Plan does not practice medicine or exercise control over the methods or professional judgments by which providers render medical services to members. Nothing in these materials should be construed to supersede or replace the clinical judgment of a provider.