The longstanding U.S. recommendation of two HPV shots for preteens may be reconsidered, as medical experts discuss whether a single dose could suffice. According to a recent report, both federal officials and doctors' organizations, despite their broader disagreements over vaccine policy, have been exploring revisions to HPV vaccination guidance. A Yale vaccine policy researcher called any change "a significant shift" from what has been communicated for years.
HPV is linked to nearly 50,000 U.S. cancer cases annually, including most cervical and anal cancers. Vaccines have been available since 2006, with dosing already reduced from three to two shots a decade ago. Evidence continues to show strong protection: a study published in JAMA Oncology found vaccinated males are nearly 50% less likely to develop certain genital-area and head-and-neck cancers, and researchers say protection lasts for decades.
The idea of a single dose gained attention after a Costa Rica study of more than 20,000 girls found one shot provided about 97% protection against cervical cancer, similar to two doses. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ordered a reduction to one dose, but a federal judge blocked that order. The American Academy of Pediatrics, which sued Kennedy, is now considering its own guidance change, exploring whether one dose is sufficient for at least some people and at what age vaccination should begin.