One shot or two? What to know about HPV vaccination recommendations
Medical experts are actively discussing whether a single dose of the HPV vaccine could be sufficient to protect adolescents against the sexually transmitted infection and associated cancers, shifting away from the traditional two-dose recommendation. This potential change comes as U.S. federal health guidance faces ongoing fragmentation and legal debate.
Why it matters
A shift to a single-dose HPV vaccination schedule could simplify administration and improve compliance, significantly impacting public health cancer prevention efforts.
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Add as preferred source A patient receives a vaccine protecting against human papillomavirus (HPV) at a pharmacy in Miami, Sept. 9, 2025. Credit: AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File Preteens may soon have something to celebrate: Medical experts are discussing the possibility that one dose of a life-saving cancer vaccine, instead of two, may be enough to protect them.
U.S. vaccination recommendations have become splintered in the past year, with federal officials and doctors' organizations disagreeing over guidance and even battling each other in court. But both sides have been exploring revisions in longstanding HPV vaccine recommendations.
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