Michael Douglas?!?!?
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If that’s him I was going to say I loved him in Apocalypse Now, then I realized that’s Martin Sheen.
I got the HPV vaccine this year after specifically requesting it from my PCP. Even though I’m too old to qualify for it, it still could reduce my risk of cancer so I figured I had nothing to lose! My doc agreed and my insurance even paid for it.
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No. My cousin Owsley.
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That’s so cool! I was a1960s fanboy in the 1990s, so I’ve definitely heard of him!
Is it worth older people (eg 50+) having these vaccinations for cancer prevention?
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I’m also curious to see RM’s answer. I’ll share I asked a doc and he said only if you plan on having other sexual partners.
I can share my findings, but just bear in mind I’m not a cancer specialist at all 
Based on my reading, 70-80% of adults have been exposed to HPV during their early romantic encounters. Many people will have a short-term (asymptomatic) acute infection which they clear, but some will pick up a chronic infection which increases cancer risk. I don’t think there’s any harm in getting vaccinated later in life, but it won’t clear an existing HPV infection. If you’re monogamous, you won’t have any new HPV exposures. I also didn’t find any “other” benefits (like how singles vaccines seem to reduce dementia risk).
What’s fascinating is how sneaky the HPV virus is. It infects cells which are relatively shielded from the immune system and it doesn’t spread in the blood (thus, doesn’t trigger a strong immune response). But the vaccine produces a strong response and gives you antibodies which basically intercept the virus before it can establish an infection.
For HepB, I don’t see any downsides in getting vaccinated at any age. I think all healthcare workers are vaccinated against HepB. It can be spread by blood contact, household contact etc.
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@relaxedmeatball I have a follow up question.
First I’m a moron… I’ve been confusing hpv with hsv …I even had the hsv lab done,*bangs head against the wall.
If you had hpv but it cleared (meaning you don’t have breakouts and might not even know if you’ve had it) does that mean it can’t cause cancer? Perplexity just agreed with that theory, but I’m asking because it’s wrong half the time, so…
Also, @RPS , I should clarify that my question to my doc was only about HPV and not HBV (I had the hbv vax pre-travel)
I am not totally sure, sorry. As far as I understand, if you were injected with HPV and then successfully cleared it, then it isn’t a chronic infection and doesn’t affect your cancer risk. Hopefully somebody who knows for sure can chip in with a better answer.
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A physician coworker of mine recommended I get the HPV vaccine because even if I’ve already been exposed to HPV, the vaccine may help to prevent malignant transformation (i.e. development of cancer) in exposed areas. This is an inference from the fact that women getting the vaccine after being treated for pre-cancerous lesions or actual cervical cancer had a lower risk of recurrence in both cases. If the immune response from the infection/cancer itself had already “maxxed out”, then getting the vaccine would be expected to do nothing, when clearly it does.
I’d do just about anything to prevent something as awful as throat cancer, so a vaccine with minimal risk of side effects was a no-brainer for me. My PCP agreed to give it, and oddly enough my insurance even paid for it even though I was 53 years old. On top of that, there’s a recent study showing that just one shot without any boosters may work just as well as the current recommendation which is a total of 2 or 3 shots.
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The issue is “how” to get it? I don’t think it’s even provided to people over a certain age.
So I searched on Gemini and this is what it tells me:
In the United States, the HPV vaccine (specifically Gardasil 9 ) is FDA-approved and available for individuals between the ages of 9 and 45 .1
While the vaccine is approved for this broad range, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides specific recommendations based on the age at which an individual begins the series.2
Vaccination Age Groups and Recommendations
| Age Group | CDC Recommendation Status | Typical Dosing Schedule |
|---|---|---|
| 9–12 years | Routine / Preferred | 1 dose (as of Jan 2026 update)* |
| 13–26 years | Catch-up | 3 doses (if starting at 15+) |
| 27–45 years | Clinical Decision-Making | 3 doses |
Note: As of January 2026, the CDC has updated its guidelines to recommend a single dose for children aged 11–12 (and as young as 9) to align with recent clinical data and international standards.3 Previously, a two-dose series was required for this age group.
Key Population Details
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Routine Vaccination (Ages 9–12): The primary goal is to vaccinate children before they are exposed to the virus.4 Clinical data indicates that the immune response is most robust in this age group.
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Catch-up Vaccination (Ages 13–26):6 For those who were not adequately vaccinated as preteens, the CDC recommends “catch-up” shots.7 If the series begins at age 15 or older, a three-dose schedule (0, 1–2, and 6 months) is required.
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Adults (Ages 27–45): While the vaccine is FDA-approved for this group, it is not routinely recommended for everyone.9 Instead, the CDC suggests shared clinical decision-making. This means adults should discuss their specific risk of new HPV infections with a healthcare provider, as many in this age range have already been exposed to some HPV types.
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Immunocompromised Individuals: Regardless of the age they start (within the 9–26 range), immunocompromised persons are still generally recommended to receive a three-dose series to ensure adequate protection.11
Clinical Considerations
The vaccine is prophylactic, not therapeutic.12 It is designed to prevent new infections from the 9 high-risk HPV types covered by the vaccine (13 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 14 58) but cannot treat an existing infection or clear HPV-related lesions.
I just had to ask and say I’m aware of risks of side effects from the vaccine and that I’m willing to pay out of pocket. My PCP is pretty conservative but still agreed.
Early and long-term effects of prophylactic and post-excision human papillomavirus vaccination on recurrent high-grade cervical intraepithelial neoplasia relative to margin status: a retrospective cohort study in the Czech Republic
thelancet.com/journals/lanepe/article/PIIS2666-7762(25)00129-2/fulltext
62% reduction was still not statistically significant, but that’s one helluva trend.
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Out of curiosity, what was the cost for the 3 HPV vaccination doses?
I have no idea what the cost was because my insurance covered it. I stopped after 2 doses because of that recent study showing that just one may be enough.
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Oh and there’s an additional potential benefit for those who are still dating or getting back into dating. The vaccine protects against 9 of the strains that can cause cancer, so even if you’ve been exposed to 1 or more of the strains you’ll be protected against new exposures to the others.
My Prompt:
How can people in the USA over the age of 45 get the HPV vaccine if they want it? What options would be available to them and what would be the possible range in the price?
Gemini Pro Response
In the United States, obtaining the HPV vaccine (Gardasil 9) after the age of 45 is possible, though it falls outside current FDA-approved indications and CDC routine recommendations. Because it is considered “off-label” for this age group, the process, legalities, and costs differ significantly from younger populations.
1. Clinical and Legal Path to Access
Since the vaccine is not FDA-approved for those over 45, you cannot simply walk into most retail pharmacies and receive it as you would a flu shot.
- Prescription Required: You must obtain a physical or electronic prescription from a licensed healthcare provider (MD, DO, NP, or PA). A physician can legally prescribe a drug or vaccine “off-label” if they believe it is medically appropriate for the patient based on their specific health profile and risk factors.
- Shared Clinical Decision-Making: You will likely need to discuss your sexual health history, potential for new partners, and overall longevity goals with your doctor. They will evaluate whether the potential benefit (protection against new strains) outweighs the cost, especially since most adults have already been exposed to some HPV types by this age.
- Administration Site: Once you have a prescription, you may need to receive the injection at your doctor’s office. Many pharmacies’ internal protocols prevent them from administering vaccines to age groups outside the FDA-approved labeling, even with a prescription.
2. Estimated Costs and Financial Options
Because this use is off-label, it is highly unlikely to be covered by private insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid. These payers typically follow ACIP (CDC) guidelines, which currently stop at age 45.
| Item | Estimated Cost (Per Dose) | Total for 3-Dose Series |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer List Price | ~$300 – $370 | ~$900 – $1,110 |
| Retail Pharmacy Price | ~$370 – $450 | ~$1,110 – $1,350 |
| Discounted Price (e.g., GoodRx) | ~$170 – $250 | ~$510 – $750 |
| Administration Fee | ~$30 – $70 | ~$90 – $210 |
Total Estimated Out-of-Pocket Range: $600 to $1,500 for the full series.
Options for Reducing Costs:
- Prescription Discount Cards: Services like GoodRx or SingleCare can significantly lower the retail price at participating pharmacies.
- Manufacturer Assistance: Merck (the manufacturer of Gardasil 9) has a patient assistance program called MerckHelps. However, their formal eligibility usually aligns with the FDA age limit (up to 45). You may still apply, but approval is not guaranteed for off-label use.
- Planned Parenthood: Some Planned Parenthood clinics or community health centers offer sliding-scale fees based on income, though they still must adhere to medical protocols regarding age.
3. Strategic Considerations for Longevity
For a longevity-focused individual, the rationale for vaccination post-45 typically centers on preventing oropharyngeal (throat), anal, and cervical cancers that can develop from new HPV exposures later in life.
- Knowledge Gap: There is limited clinical trial data on the efficacy of the vaccine in populations over 45, as most studies focused on younger cohorts where the immune response is more robust.
- Alternative Data: Some clinicians argue that if an individual is entering a new relationship or has multiple partners, the risk of acquiring one of the high-risk strains (like 16 or 18) remains present regardless of age.
Next Step: Would you like me to find a template or list of talking points you can use to discuss an off-label HPV prescription with your healthcare provider?
Example of Pricing using GoodRX (best pricing seems to be around $170 per injection syringe):
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Anyone can go to planned parenthood and get one. I did, 3 vax over a year. Out of pocket was $700ish.
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I wonder if that works (is available) for men too. I’ll call and check.
Very interesting, thanks! I wasn’t able to find much online about it. I hadn’t found that Lancet paper, though it’s not directly related to our question. I asked ChatGPT Pro to analyse the paper and the recommendations about HPV vaccination. It gave a pretty complex answer, but the gist is that it’s definitely a promising signal. As you said, it does at leats suggest that there are immunity gains to be made, though the nuance might be around the fact that the patients in the trial had an excision and will need to then heal the tissue. The vaccine in this people may be reducing the infection rate of the new tissue, which wouldn’t apply to you or I who didn’t have excision.
Still, maybe I’m going to try and find out if I can get an HPV vaccine now.
I would really hope it should. HPV causes anal cancer, penile cancer, oral cancer etc. It affects men just as much as women. While we can’t get cervical cancer, we can get penile cancer, which sounds extremely unpleasant… And also, the women are catching it from the men and vice-versa, so there’s no sense only vaccination one sex.