Posted on March 19, 2006
In order to protect themselves against human papilloma virus, many female students were looking at the Health Center to help with their vaccination.
“A lot of students on campus already started receiving the vaccine over Christmas break,” Betsy Gentry, immunizations program assistant at the Health Center, said.
But students will not find the vaccine at the Health Center.
“Due to our current space limitations and budget, we do not have the ability to provide vaccine series at this time,” said Ann Simmons, coordinator of health education and wellness programs at the Health Center.
“I’ve been looking into it and I think everyone should,” Bennett said. “I’m surprised it isn’t offered at the Health Center.”
Eighty percent of women will contract HPV genital infection, by the time they are 50; many do not even know they have it.
More than 6 million people contract HPV in the United States each year, according to the American Social Health Association. To protect women from this often fatal disease, a vaccine known as Gardasil was recently approved by the Food and Drug Administration for use in females ages 9 to 26.
“I know a lot of girls who got the vaccine while they were home,” junior Caitlin Bennett said.
Gardasil is a series of three shots given over a period of six months. It is the only vaccine that may help guard against diseases such as cervical cancer, genital warts and other cervical abnormalities that are caused by HPV Types 6, 11, 16 and 18, according to gardasil.com.
While the Health Center does not offer the vaccine, it does prescribe it, Simmons said. Because the vaccine is so expensive and the Health Center does not accept insurance, Simmons said this is the best method for everyone.
Without insurance, Gardasil costs $140 per shot, totaling $420 for the whole series, Gentry said. By writing a prescription, the Health Center hopes to reduce the price.
“We felt this was the most beneficial to students,” Gentry said. “Otherwise they would have to pay up front.”
Currently, the Health Center has an ongoing agreement with local pharmacy Williamson Hughes Pharmacy and Home Health. That way when the students get their prescription, they know they have somewhere to go, Gentry said. Students can also purchase the vaccine and bring it back to the Health Center to have one of the nurses administer it at no cost.
Some are not satisfied with the Center’s efforts.
“Since everyone doesn’t have a car here, it might be difficult for some,” Bennett said. “But it is better than nothing.”
