A mother presents to the nurse practitioner with her 10-year-old son for a routine well check and a flu shot. She asks the NP if there are any vaccines he is not up-to-date on. The NP explains that the HPV vaccine (Gardasil 9) is indicated for which of the following groups?

Choice A reason: HPV vaccination is recommended for girls and women, but the optimal age for routine vaccination is 11-12 years, not the entire 9-26 age range. Choice B reason: Similarly, vaccination is recommended for boys and men, with routine administration starting at 11-12 years. Choice C reason: Routine HPV vaccination is recommended for both girls and boys at ages 11-12 to maximize immune response before potential exposure to HPV, making this the correct age group. Choice D reason: The vaccine can be given up to age 26, but the recommendation is specifically for children ages 11-12 for routine immunization.