Health services offers new HPV vaccine

Last year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil, a preventive vaccine which protects against the transmission of certain types of HPV. While the vaccine has been hard to come by in some areas of the country, Boston College currently has a supply on hand for females interested in being innoculated.

Of the more than 100 types of HPV known today, approximately 30 are sexually transmitted. Gardasil protects against four of these: types six, 11, 16, and 18. While types six and 11 are known to cause 90 percent of genital warts, both types 16 and 18 are responsible for 70 percent of cervical cancers.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), at least half of sexually active men and women will have HPV at some point in their lives, however, because the virus often shows no symptoms and may go away on its own, many don't know they have acquired the virus in the first place. Merck & Co., the company that distributes the Gardasil vaccine, reports that in the year 2000 alone approximately 9.2 million young adults between 15 and 24 years of age had genital HPV.

The vaccine has been tested and proved effective for women ages 9 through 26. No serious side effects have been reported. Those most commonly reported were minor and included pain, swelling, itching, and redness at the injection site, as well as fever. The safety and efficacy of the vaccine on women over 26 is still unknown. Similarly, studies are being conducted to test the efficacy of the vaccine on boys and men.

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices recommends women and girls get the vaccine before their teens and as early as 9 years old. As the vaccine is ineffective once a person has become infected with HPV, it is recommended women get vaccinated before becoming sexually active. The vaccine does not treat existing HPV infections, genital warts, or cervical cancer. Likewise, it is not a contraceptive, nor does it protect against other sexually transmitted diseases.

Women who already have become sexually active, however, are also encouraged to become vaccinated.

Although they may have acquired one or more of the four types of HPV treated by the vaccine, very few women have acquired all four.

Currently, there are no tests to determine whether a person has been infected with all of these types of the virus.

Dr. Thomas Nary, director of health services, encourages BC students to get the vaccine. "We strongly recommend it for all young women here," said Nary. Although there have been shortages in other health service facilities nationwide, the HPV vaccine is currently available at BC. "We believe we have enough," said Nary.

The vaccine is administered in a series of three doses over the course of six months. The cost is $130 per dose, but the treatment is covered by some insurance plans. Students should inquire with their individual insurance companies.

Even if the vaccine is not covered, Nary encourages women to consider vaccination. "We are talking about a potentially deadly disease," he said.

Some religious rights groups have raised the question of whether the vaccine detracts from abstinence - only approaches to sexual education.

Nary dismissed these concerns as irrelevant. He reiterated that the vaccine is not a contraceptive and did not believe that vaccinating a young girl or woman would promote promiscuity.