By Lisa Bercu, NCL Senior Director of Health Policy

Last week, my 11-year-old received her first HPV (human papillomavirus) vaccine. Like most kids, my daughter doesn’t love getting shots, but I talked it up for months in advance. I explained the HPV vaccine helps prevent cancer, which could otherwise rear its ugly head years or even decades down the road. And, that she may be spared many of the health risks and worries that so many women of my generation grew up with, including dealing with abnormal pap smears and invasive follow-up procedures. With that in mind (and knowing she would be rewarded with ice cream later!), she bravely rolled up her sleeve and got her vaccine.

That moment came against the backdrop of a significant and troubling policy shift. Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), under Secretary Kennedy’s leadership, made several changes to the childhood vaccine schedule. These changes were not driven by new scientific evidence. Instead, they reflect a departure from decades of established research, elevating ideology and misinformation in ways that will increase confusion for families, disrupt access to routine immunizations that have been given to children for years, and reduce public confidence in vaccines that are proven to be safe and effective.

These changes include altering the recommendations for the HPV vaccine. The CDC is now recommending a single dose instead of the two doses previously recommended. While there is growing evidence that one dose may be sufficient to protect people against HPV-related cancers, there isn’t sufficient evidence to support that change yet, and the American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists continue to recommend the full series of doses for adolescents.

HPV Vaccine = Cancer Prevention

During Cervical Cancer Awareness Month, it’s worth underscoring a critical fact: HPV vaccination is cancer prevention.

HPV is extremely common, with more than 200 strains, and it is transmitted through intimate skin-to-skin contact (e.g., sex). Most people will be infected with at least one HPV type at some point in their lives, and certain types can lead to cancer. The HPV vaccine protects against the types that cause the vast majority of cervical cancers, as well as other cancers such as throat, anal, vaginal, vulvar, and some head and neck cancers. According to the American Cancer Society, the HPV vaccine, when given at the recommended ages, can prevent more than 90% of HPV-related cancers.

The HPV vaccine can be given to children starting at age 9, with routine vaccination at 11 or 12. The recommended dosing schedule is as follows:

• • 9-14 years: 2-dose series across a 6–12-month period
  • 15 years or older: 3-dose series across a 6-month period

While the HPV vaccine is typically given to preteens, adults up to age 45 can get it. Vaccinating at the recommended age not only strengthens immune response but also ensures protection before potential exposure to HPV and before cancer can begin to develop. Importantly, this guidance applies to both boys and girls. HPV can cause cancer in men, as well including anal, penile, throat, and head and neck cancers. The vaccine works. According to the CDC, among young adult women, infections with HPV types that cause most HPV cancers and genital warts have dropped 81%. And among vaccinated women, the percentage of cervical pre-cancers caused by the HPV types most often linked to cervical cancer has dropped by 40%.

Unfortunately, following the changes to the CDC’s recommendations, insurance coverage of the HPV vaccine is in flux. Most private insurers are expected to continue covering all doses of the vaccine through 2026 at no cost to patients, but coverage of the second and third doses after 2026 remains uncertain. Under the Vaccines for Children program, coverage of the first dose is expected to continue, while coverage of second and third doses is currently unclear.

What You Can Do

You can help ensure children get the protection they need:

• • Talk with your child’s healthcare provider about the HPV vaccine at the recommended ages. If your child is eligible for the HPV vaccine now, talk to your healthcare provider as soon as possible, as insurance coverage may change.
  • Review and share trusted information from organizations like the American Academy of Pediatrics.
  • Advocate for policies that uphold science-based vaccine recommendations.

By Lisa Bercu, NCL’s Senior Director of Health Policy

I remember like it was yesterday when I found out I was pregnant with each of my kids, now seven and ten years old.  I felt a mix of joy, excitement, and worry all at once.  But more than anything, I felt protective, thinking about how to keep them safe and give them the best start in life. As President Obama remarked, “To have a child is to have your heart walking around outside your body,” which I think perfectly sums up the realities of being a parent.  

That’s why I was so concerned when President Trump made unsupported claims that acetaminophen (commonly known by the brand name Tylenol) may cause autism when used in pregnancy, and that young children shouldn’t take acetaminophen for “virtually any reason.”  Moms deserve clear, science-based information, and not fear or guilt.   We need to feel confident making decisions that protect our health and our children’s health.   

Here’s what we know so far: research has not proven that taking acetaminophen during pregnancy causes autism. Most of the studies that have looked at this question have not shown a clear cause-and-effect link. The two best studies we have so far, published in 2021 and 2024, give doctors and parents the most reliable evidence to date that acetaminophen is safe to use in pregnancy when needed.  

 What we also know is that autism doesn’t have a single cause and is due to many different factors, including genetics and environment. In addition, the rise in autism is due to increased awareness and the medical community better recognizing and diagnosing it.  

It’s also important to know that untreated illness in pregnancy can be dangerous.  Untreated fever, particularly in the first trimester, increases the risk of miscarriage, birth defects, and premature birth, and untreated pain can lead to maternal depression, anxiety, and high blood pressure.   

Medical experts, including the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, and the American Academy of Pediatrics, have all reaffirmed that acetaminophen is safe when taken as needed, in moderation, and after consultation with a doctor.  In addition, leading autism organizations, including the Autism Science Foundation and Autism Speaks, agree that acetaminophen use in pregnancy has not been proven to cause autism.    

Pregnancy is not easy.  While President Trump implies that moms should just “tough it out” when they’re not feeling well, that’s not how real life works. Many of us are still trying to do it all while pregnant – working, managing households, and running after older kids. Illness doesn’t politely wait until after delivery and ignoring it isn’t always safe.  

Women need options to treat pain and fever during pregnancy.  Unlike ibuprofen, which carries known risks later in pregnancy, acetaminophen has been trusted for decades as the best over-the-counter choice for managing fever or pain while pregnant.    

If you have any concerns about taking medications during pregnancy, it’s always a good idea to talk with your doctor. You can also check out MotherToBaby.org, which has reliable, evidence-based information on medications like acetaminophen, and you can even call or chat with trained specialists to get answers to your specific questions.                                   

At the end of the day, we all want the same thing: healthy moms and healthy kids. The best way to get there is to rely on up-to-date and high-quality evidence and to have open conversations with your doctors.