Most people need either two or three Gardasil shots, depending on the age they get their first dose. If you start the series before your 15th birthday, you need two shots. If you start at age 15 or older, you need three.
The 2-Dose Schedule
Two doses of the HPV vaccine are recommended for most people who begin the series between ages 9 and 14. The CDC recommends routine vaccination at age 11 or 12, though it can start as early as 9. The second shot is given 6 to 12 months after the first, with a minimum gap of 5 months between doses. If the second dose is given earlier than 5 months, a third dose will be needed.
Younger immune systems mount a stronger response to the vaccine, which is why two doses in this age group produce protection comparable to three doses in older teens and adults. This stronger immune response is the entire reason the two-dose schedule exists for younger recipients.
The 3-Dose Schedule
Three doses are recommended for anyone who starts the series between ages 15 and 26. The standard timing is the first shot at your initial visit, the second about two months later, and the third about six months after the first. Three doses are also recommended for people with weakened immune systems, regardless of the age they start.
Adults aged 27 through 45 are not part of the routine recommendation but can still receive the vaccine after discussing it with their provider. They also follow the three-dose schedule.
What If You Missed a Dose
If you started the series but fell behind, you don’t need to start over. Pick up where you left off, no matter how much time has passed since your last dose. This applies to both the two-dose and three-dose schedules.
Single-Dose Protection
A growing body of evidence suggests that even a single dose of HPV vaccine provides strong, lasting protection. A large study following roughly 17,000 female participants in India over 12 years found that one dose was 92% effective against persistent infection with the two highest-risk HPV strains, a result statistically comparable to two or three doses.
The World Health Organization has acted on this data. In 2022, WHO recommended single-dose HPV vaccination as an option, and by September 2024, 57 countries had adopted a single-dose schedule. The shift has already expanded access significantly: WHO estimates at least 6 million additional girls were reached with HPV vaccines in 2023 because of single-dose programs. However, the CDC has not adopted a single-dose recommendation for the United States. The standard U.S. guidance remains two or three doses depending on age.
Quick Reference by Age
- Ages 9 through 14: 2 doses, spaced 6 to 12 months apart
- Ages 15 through 26: 3 doses, given over about 6 months
- Ages 27 through 45: 3 doses, after individual discussion with a provider
- Immunocompromised (any age): 3 doses