HPV Vaccination After Infection: Benefits and Recommendations

Benefits of Post-Infection Vaccination

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends HPV vaccination for individuals already infected with one or more vaccine HPV types, as it would still protect against disease caused by other vaccine HPV types they have not yet acquired 1
Natural immunity from prior HPV infection does not provide complete protection against reactivation or reinfection by the same HPV genotype, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control 2
The majority of sexually active females would derive at least partial benefit from vaccination, even if they have been exposed to some HPV types, as stated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1

Immunization with the quadrivalent HPV vaccine resulted in 64.9% efficacy in preventing new cervical lesions by any HPV genotype in women who had been treated for cervical lesions, as reported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control 2
A study of 737 women undergoing cervical conisation showed that the quadrivalent HPV vaccine was associated with a 65% reduction in HPV recurrence at 2 years, regardless of genotype, according to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control 2
The post-treatment risk reduction of new lesions following bivalent vaccine immunization in women with surgically treated cervical lesions was 88.2%, regardless of genotype, as reported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control 2

For women with precancerous cervical lesions, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control strongly recommends HPV vaccination for women undergoing treatment for precancerous cervical lesions 2, 4
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends routine vaccination for females aged 11-12 years, but it can be started as early as age 9 1
Catch-up vaccination is recommended for all persons through age 26 years who are not adequately vaccinated, as stated by the American Academy of Pediatrics 3

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists states that HPV vaccination does not replace the need for cervical cancer screening; regular screening should continue according to guidelines 3
No prevaccination testing is recommended before vaccination, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics 3
The vaccine's effectiveness decreases with older age and likelihood of HPV exposure with increasing number of sex partners, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1

For individuals initiating vaccination before their 15th birthday, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a 2-dose schedule with doses at 0 and 6-12 months 3
For those initiating vaccination at age 15 years or older, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a 3-dose schedule with doses at 0, 1-2, and 6 months 3

The benefit of vaccination decreases as the number of prior HPV exposures increases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1
Vaccination should not be delayed in the hope of clearing an infection, as new infections with other HPV types can still occur, as reported by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control 2