Get Your Daughters Vaccinated for HPV Now

The first national study of four common sexually transmitted diseases, human papillomavirus (HPV), chlamydia, genital herpes and trichomoniasis, among girls and young women (ages 14 to 19) has found that one in four are infected with at least one of the diseases, federal health officials reported in March. 18% had HPV and 15% had multiple diseases. The most common forms HPV can be vaccinated against and should be done so on mandatory basis.

The $1.5B abstinence program should be declared a failure. The behavior of subsets of teens subscribing to abstinence programs outlined in studies conducted by Mailmen School of Public Health at Columbia University made me blush. It followed the Clinton line of reasoning that certain acts are not sex (this has nothing to do with the medical definition). Teens have sex; parents wake up and smell the coffee. Talk to your children and encourage them to be responsibly. On the other hand, get your young ladies vaccinated offer access to condoms and have them screened and treatment.

A Few Notes about HPV

What is HPV?

HPV (human papillomavirus) is a virus that is common in the United States and around the world and can cause cancer and genital warts. HPV is spread through sexual contact. There are about 100 types of HPV. HPV is the major cause cervical cancer in women and is also associated with several other types of cancer in both men and women.

Some Fast Facts about Cervical Cancer:

Number of people affected by HPV: About 20 million in the United States. 80% of women by age 50 will test positive for HPV.

New cases each year: 6.2 million

Health effects: Usually causes no symptoms, but certain strains can lead to cervical cancer and/or genital warts.

Cervical cancer data in the United States: 9,700 new U.S. cases a year. 3,700 deaths.

Can HPV be treated?

There is no treatment for HPV. But there are treatments for the health problems that HPV can cause, such as genital warts, cervical cell changes, and cancers caused by HPV.

What can you do?

A vaccine, Gardasil (Approved by the FDA on June 8, 2006), which is effective against four HPV strains is available. Two of the HPV types, Type 16 and 18 cause about 70 percent of cervical cancers. Combined, all four types of HPV in the Merck Gardasil product account for about 90% of Genital warts. It is delivered in a course of the three shots.

Recommended recipients: Girls 11 and 12 years old, or before onset of sexual activity. The vaccine can be given to girls as young as 9. The vaccine is also advised for 13-to-26-year-olds.

Cost: $360 for a set of three shots over a six month period. Now being covered by vast majority of insurers.

Side effects: No serious ones reported; some pain at injection site.

How can I get the vaccine if I don’t have insurance?
The Vaccines for Children (VFC) program helps families of children who may not otherwise have access to vaccines by providing free vaccines to doctors who serve them. The VFC program provides free vaccines to children and adolescents younger than 19 years of age, who are either Medicaid-eligible, American Indian, or Alaska Native or uninsured. There are over 45,000 sites that provide VFC vaccines, including hospital, private, and public clinics. The VFC Program also allows children and adolescents to get VFC vaccines through Federally Qualified Health Centers or Rural Health Centers, if their private health insurance does not cover vaccinations. For more information about the VFC, visit the VFC web site. Some states also provide free or low-cost vaccines at public health department clinics to people without health insurance coverage for vaccines.

Source: National Cervical Cancer Coalition and the CDC.

For More Information:National Cervical Cancer Coalition (NCCC)
6520 Platt Avenue, #693

West Hills, CA 91307
(818) 909-3849
(818) 780-8199 Fax

mailto:rbiety@nccc-online.org
http://www.nccc-online.org/awareness.html
Materials available
Contact: Rachel Biety