Some Seniors Get HPV Too

According to a new study from FAIR Health, those aged 65 and older were the group with the most significant increase (23.8%) in sexually transmitted disease (STD) diagnoses from 2020-2023.

Among the other FAIR Health findings, people 65 and older had the most significant increase (32.2%) in human papillomavirus (HPV) diagnoses.

Furthermore, 21.9% of HPV cases occurred among patients aged 55 to 64.

However, Fair Health's data did not disclose if these HPV cases were in adults who had been vaccinated, when they were vaccinated, or were unvaccinated.

Based on data analysis from FAIR Health’s repository of over 47 billion commercial healthcare claim records, the study results were announced on July 8, 2024.

In a press release, FAIR Health President Robin Gelburd stated, “It is central to FAIR Health’s mission to use our vast repository of claims data to provide data on public health concerns and support research by others."

"We hope this information brings greater clarity to the incidence of STDs.”

The FAIR Health findings are consistent with data recently released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), showing rising rates of STDs among people aged 55 and older from 2012 to 2022.

The CDC's HPV vaccination schedule for 2024 includes a three-dose HPV series (0, 1-2, 6 months) for persons who initiate vaccination at ages 15 through 45 years and for immunocompromised persons.

The 9-valent HPV vaccine has been U.S. FDA approved for years and protects against HPV types 16 and 18, which cause about 66% of cervical cancers and most other HPV-attributable cancers in the U.S., and five additional cancer-causing types, which account for about 15% of cervical cancers. It also protects against HPV 6 and 11, which cause most anogenital warts. says the CDC.

FAIR Health is a national, independent nonprofit organization.