Spring Break
Shots Help Prevent HPV
Andrew Porter
Issue date: 2/22/07 Section: News
Although there were less people than expected, more than 100 came to the Women's Clinic at Student Health Services Wednesday to get a new vaccine that guards against Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a virus that causes both cervical cancer and genital warts.
The vaccine, Gardasil, is intended for women between the ages of 9 and 26, and protects against four types of HPV, according to an informational handout from drug manufacturer Merck, which was given to the recipients of the vaccine. There are over 100 types of HPV, but the four that Gardasil is effective against cause 70 percent of cervical cancers and 90 percent of genital warts.
Gardasil is given in three doses, with the second coming two months after the first and the third following the second by four months.
A second round of vaccinations will be held by Student Health Services in April and will be followed by a third clinic in September. Students who got the vaccine were given a card to remind them to register for a second dose.
About 140 women were vaccinated, a number that was "much smaller than anticipated," according to Kathleen Sanner, UConn's Allergy Clinic coordinator and clinical research coordinator who organized the vaccination clinic. The original feeling was that between 500 and 600 people might show up for the vaccine, but it was merely a rough estimate. Sanner said the cost of the vaccine and a general lack of knowledge may have led to the smaller number of students.
"It is very expensive," Sanner said. "It costs $150 a dose, so $450 total."
According to Sanner, while some insurance companies will not cover the vaccine, most of the major companies do.
"It's worth getting, regardless of insurance," she said.
The number of people receiving the vaccine might go up in April, Sanner said. The content of each injection is the same, so women who missed the first clinic can go in April to take their first shot.
Beginning with the September clinic, Student Health Services hopes to have a new clinic every few months to allow women on campus to be vaccinated, according to Sanner.
"I'd heard it was going to hurt so I was kind of nervous," said Justine Dickson, a 4th-semester pre-pharmacy major who received the vaccine. "But it didn't hurt more than any other shot ... If the subtle pinch of a shot can save you the pain and agony of cancer and chemotherapy, why wouldn't you get it?"
"It's really quick," said Lauren Millerd, a 4th-semester women's studies major, describing the shot - which is given in the deltoid muscle of the arm. "It's a little sore, but it's just a shot. It's not that bad of an experience. It is definitely a vaccine people don't know enough about and they need to get it."
"I'd absolutely recommend it to others," said Dickson. "No one wants to go through cancer ... it is not a cure, but its preventative and if a shot can prevent one type of cancer, why not?"
The vaccine, Gardasil, is intended for women between the ages of 9 and 26, and protects against four types of HPV, according to an informational handout from drug manufacturer Merck, which was given to the recipients of the vaccine. There are over 100 types of HPV, but the four that Gardasil is effective against cause 70 percent of cervical cancers and 90 percent of genital warts.
Gardasil is given in three doses, with the second coming two months after the first and the third following the second by four months.
A second round of vaccinations will be held by Student Health Services in April and will be followed by a third clinic in September. Students who got the vaccine were given a card to remind them to register for a second dose.
About 140 women were vaccinated, a number that was "much smaller than anticipated," according to Kathleen Sanner, UConn's Allergy Clinic coordinator and clinical research coordinator who organized the vaccination clinic. The original feeling was that between 500 and 600 people might show up for the vaccine, but it was merely a rough estimate. Sanner said the cost of the vaccine and a general lack of knowledge may have led to the smaller number of students.
"It is very expensive," Sanner said. "It costs $150 a dose, so $450 total."
According to Sanner, while some insurance companies will not cover the vaccine, most of the major companies do.
"It's worth getting, regardless of insurance," she said.
The number of people receiving the vaccine might go up in April, Sanner said. The content of each injection is the same, so women who missed the first clinic can go in April to take their first shot.
Beginning with the September clinic, Student Health Services hopes to have a new clinic every few months to allow women on campus to be vaccinated, according to Sanner.
"I'd heard it was going to hurt so I was kind of nervous," said Justine Dickson, a 4th-semester pre-pharmacy major who received the vaccine. "But it didn't hurt more than any other shot ... If the subtle pinch of a shot can save you the pain and agony of cancer and chemotherapy, why wouldn't you get it?"
"It's really quick," said Lauren Millerd, a 4th-semester women's studies major, describing the shot - which is given in the deltoid muscle of the arm. "It's a little sore, but it's just a shot. It's not that bad of an experience. It is definitely a vaccine people don't know enough about and they need to get it."
"I'd absolutely recommend it to others," said Dickson. "No one wants to go through cancer ... it is not a cure, but its preventative and if a shot can prevent one type of cancer, why not?"
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