Ariadna Zuniga
As school begins, female students under the age of 18 have another chance to protect themselves against four types of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted disease.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has recently licensed a new HPV vaccine that is highly recommended for women ages 11 to 26.
This vaccine will be provided only for female students under the age of 18 in the Pierce College Health Center at no cost.
The vaccine is a series of three shots administered over a six-month period, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted in June 2006 to recommend the first vaccine, Gardasil, which would prevent four types of HPV.
It helps prevent the cause of 70 percent of cervical cancer and 90 percent of genital warts, according to the ACIP.
Even if the patient already has an HPV, this treatment will still be effective because most patients are not infected with all four types.
“I think it’s a great idea that this vaccine is becoming available for us. We need all the help we can get to prevent the illnesses out there,” said Merlyn Michel, a sophomore at Pierce.
This vaccine will be offered throughout the United States but since it is new, the cost is still not covered by all insurances.
The cost for each vaccine is $120 per dose and there are three doses required for a total cost of $360, according to the CDC.
Pierce is offering this vaccine free at the campus health center for any female student under the age of 18.
The series must be given while the female student is still 18.
Once the student turns 19 the series of vaccines are cut off.
“The state has made this vaccine only available to students under 18 for free,” said Beth Benne, Registered Nurse (R.N.) at Pierce.
“But depending on what clinic you attend, this vaccine will be available to you at little or no cost.”
Although this vaccine is meant for women between the ages of 11 to 26, it will not be available for free here at Pierce due to state rules and regulations.
“If any student is interested in this vaccine and you’re under the age of 18, I suggest getting it as soon as possible so that we may administer it for free,” said Benne.
“If a patient is about to turn 19, I am able to give all three doses within four months instead of the six-month span, but this will only be for emergency cases and the effects are still the same.”
There are some federal health programs that are already accepting the coverage and are ready for distribution.
One program in particular is Vaccine for Children (VCF), which provides all the needed vaccines for children less than 19 years of age.
“It’s great that this vaccine came out but it’s a shame that I can’t receive it for free,” said Laura Lopez, a sophomore at Pierce.
“But it’s good that now I have more information about it,” she added.
This vaccine is not offered to men yet because the effects are still being tested.
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