Welcome to Immunize.org’s Ask the Experts resources. This Ask the Experts question is presented by Immunize.org’s Kelly L. Moore, MD, MPH.
Question: Can someone with a positive HPV cervical screening test be vaccinated for HPV?
Answer: Yes. A woman with evidence of present or past HPV infection identified through cervical screening may be vaccinated, and should be vaccinated if age 26 or younger. Infection with one type of HPV does not prevent infection with additional types. Vaccination can prevent infections with additional HPV types included in the vaccine. Recipients of HPV vaccinations should be counseled that the vaccine will not have a therapeutic effect on any existing HPV infections or cervical lesions. In other words, vaccination does not treat existing HPV infections or the lesions (warts, cancer, or pre-cancerous changes) caused by them.
About Ask the Experts
Immunize.org established Ask the Experts to provide practical answers to clinical questions about vaccines and vaccine administration. Our Immunize.org experts have answered more than 1,200 clinical questions like this one based on ACIP recommendations. You can find all of these questions and answers on our "Ask the Experts" page at www.immunize.org/askexperts.
About Immunize.org
Immunize.org supports healthcare professionals with educational resources and advocates to remove barriers to vaccination for all. We create and distribute educational materials for healthcare professionals and the public that enhance the delivery of safe and effective immunization services. We work to improve national and state vaccine policy. Immunize.org also facilitates communication about the safety, efficacy, and use of vaccines within the broad immunization community of patients, parents, healthcare organizations, and government health agencies.
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