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Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccineVaccines & vaccinations guideGiven pre-approval in June 2006, the vaccine Gardasil is proven to prevent human papillomavirus (HPV). Discovered in recent years, HPV is a sexually transmitted infection that is linked to cervical cancer, genital warts, and precancerous genital lesions. Gardasil is approved for girls and women from between the ages of nine and twenty-six. If the vaccine proves effective with no side effects, the vaccine will gain full approval in November. Every year, more than 9,700 women in the United States are diagnosed as having cervical cancer. The cancer claims the lives of 3,700 United States residents every year. The numbers climb to 470,000 and 233,000 worldwide. Though many women and girls' bodies fight the virus without any trouble, a few women do develop complications. Eradicating the virus prevents seventy percent of all cases of cervical cancer and ninety percent of all cases of genital warts. Short of abstinence, the vaccine is the only known prevention to contracting HPV. Four studies were completed before the FDA gave the vaccine pre-approval. 21,000 women were given either the vaccine or a placebo. The vaccine proved to be 99.9% effective against precancerous cervical lesions, vulvar lesions, and genital warts. The vaccine was not effective against preventing cervical cancer in women already infected with HPV. Following the vaccination, the only side effects were mild to moderate pain at the site of the injection. Gardasil must be given in three injections over a span of six-months for the vaccine to offer full protection. Those receiving the shots must abstain from sexual relations until the final dose is received or they risk infection. The vaccine also only protects against types 6, 11, 16, and 18. Therefore, doctors and the FDA recommend receiving yearly pap smear tests and cervical exams to ensure a woman is negative for both the precancerous and cancerous cells. Currently, cost is the biggest factor. The shots cost approximately $120 per dose. Most insurance companies cover this vaccination, but some insurance plans refuse to pay for more than one vaccine every few months, which can create a problem getting insurance to pay for all three shots in a six-month span. |
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