"True preventive care is to see patients on a consistent basis before disease gets there, and with the new recommendations, it may take away the true meaning of preventive if the guidelines start this process at age 25," Shepherd said."The new guidelines could also impact the relationship with the physician, which is usually annual. The changes can often be confusing for both patients and health care providers.
The ACS is changing the recommended guidelines based on the successful adoption of the vaccine, but we're not yet where we need to be in that regard. HealthyWomen believes the change needs to be accompanied by ongoing concerted, collaborative efforts to increase HPV vaccination rates. Unfortunately, people have delayed wellness visits due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and many children and adults are behind on their immunizations, including the HPV vaccine.