The HPV vaccine is recommended for girls from 10 years to young women as old as 26 years. For the vaccine to be most effective, it is important for girls to get the it before they become sexually active because they have not been exposed to HPV.
The vaccine can be given to women of any age, however, it will not ward off existing HPV infection and might not be as effictive as in young women.
New data has shown that the vaccine is effective in males for preventing genital warts associated with HPV6 and HPV11. - (Health24, August 2011)
Source: National Cancer Institute