Who should or should not get the HPV vaccine?

• The HPV vaccine is for girls and women 9–26 years old. It works best when given to girls or young women before they have any kind of sexual contact.  But even if a young woman is already sexually active, vaccination may prevent someone with one type of HPV from being infected with another type.


• You should not get the vaccine if you have ever had a life-threatening allergic reaction to yeast or to a previous dose of the HPV vaccine.  Pregnant women also should not get the vaccine. The vaccine appears to be safe for both the mother and the unborn baby, but this is still being studied. Receiving HPV vaccine when pregnant is not a reason to consider terminating the pregnancy. Women who are breast-feeding may safely get the vaccine.


• People who are mildly ill when the shot is scheduled can get the HPV vaccine.  People with moderate or severe illnesses should wait until they recover.

Find the clinics nearest you in Missouri or Kansas City-area that are offering the vaccine for free.