Persistent infection with high-risk Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) has been identified as the causal factor of cervical cancer, with relative risk up to 300-400 folds. This very close relationship leads to the preventive strategy of vaccination against HPV infections and HPV-related lesions. The article describes molecular and immunologic characteristics of HPV, currently available HPV vaccines and its protective effects; the relationship between HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening, and an introduction to therapeutic HPV vaccine trials.