Kol hakavod for raising this important issue.

The HPV vaccination is recommended for all teenagers. One never knows exactly whom one is going to be sexually involved with over time (for example, marrying someone with previous sexual experience, or G-d forbid in a case of rape). A child’s lifestyle may also turn out to not be the one their parents had hoped for. All of these are reasons that this vaccination should be encouraged, even for religious teenagers.

The decision as to when to vaccinate depends somewhat on the accepted procedure in one’s country. In Israel, for example, students are vaccinated in school in 8th grade. Elsewhere, timing can be discussed with one’s healthcare provider.

Learn more here, and feel free to get back to us with any further questions.

B’Hatzlacha!

This response was updated on 11 February, 2024.