With India preparing to roll out afree HPV vaccine campaigntargeting girls around age 14, many parents are asking an important question:If puberty can start as early as 8, why is the vaccine recommended until 14?Doctors and public‑health experts clarify that the recommended age range isn’t solely based on puberty onset but onwhen the vaccine works best and before exposure to HPV infections.
According toWorld Health Organization (WHO) guidance, the primary target age for HPV vaccination is between9 and 14 yearsbecause this window allows immunizationbefore most people begin to be exposed to the virus, which spreads mainly through sexual activity. Health specialists emphasise that the immune response is strongest and most durable when given in early adolescence, and vaccinating by age 14 still provides strong protection even if puberty began earlier.
Doctors also note that early vaccination doesn’t influence puberty onset or sexual behaviour; it simply ensures the body builds immunitybefore any risk of infection.The goal is to maximise protection against high‑risk HPV types that can lead tocervical and other cancers later in life. This age‑based strategy is part of public‑health planning to help reduce HPV infection rates and future cancer cases in the population.
