Is Anyone Considering the Cervical Cancer Vaccine?

[ufdale]

It's not horribly expensive, but I just don't understand why insurance companies aren't covering it!
At women's centers it's $150 for all three shots and I'm pretty sure it's 200 at UF. I've even heard that there is some push to make it a requirement for freshmen entering college.

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally Posted by ufdale

It's not horribly expensive, but I just don't understand why insurance companies aren't covering it!
At women's centers it's $150 for all three shots and I'm pretty sure it's 200 at UF. I've even heard that there is some push to make it a requirement for freshmen entering college.

I work in this field. When new drugs/medical treatments/vaccines are first FDA approved, they do not immediately get added to insurance formularies. If you call your insurance company and they say no we will not cover Gardasil (or any medication), push back and ask if there is an appeals process to get it approved. Some require prior authorizations that need to be completed by your doctor.

So while they might be saying no at the time, that answer can change. After time goes by and there is more information and the insurance company meets with its pharmacists and medical experts, it will be added to more insurance formularies.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by ufdale

I've even heard that there is some push to make it a requirement for freshmen entering college.

The problem with this is, if you've been exposed to those strains of HPV, the vaccine can increase your chances of getting cancer. Even if every girl gets it at the age of 9, I don't see this being a good "requirement."

What about vaccinating men as well? While HPV can cause penile cancer, wouldn't the vaccine help prevent transmission?

[AChiOhSnap]

HPV Vaccine (Gardasil) Fact Sheet

Here's a factsheet on the vaccine from the CDC in case anyone wants it!

The vaccine is still being tested on boys/men according to the website.

[NappyBison]

I've already been given the vaccine (soon to be receiving my 3rd and final shot) and I didn't know much about it when my doctor informed me of it last year. I was just going in for a routine check-up and to start my "college shots" up so I'd have them out of the way. As far as I know, the particular strains of HPV it is supposed to help prevent, will soon be replaced my new strains I guess technically my generation is the guinea pig for this vaccine and who knows what will happen to "us" after we've been introduced to it. I heard a few states were going to try and force parents into making their children get the vaccine. I'm not that worried about the vaccine itself though. I just see it as another form of protecting myself from any other disease: measles, mumps, chicken pox etc.

[christiangirl]

Originally Posted by Dionysus

No. In order to get the HPV, I have get some ding-a-ling first, and I'm not having that much luck in that department as for now. Plus, I don't like taking vacs period, I don't even take the flu-shots.

While this was said in a way that only Dionysus can so I can't claim the exact wording, I'll ditto it anyway. While I know that sex isn't the only way to contract the virus, it's a big part of it and that's not an issue for me. Plus, I've been a little anti-vaccine lately. I've never had a flu shot and do not intend to get one--every time my parents get a flu shot, they end up with the flu. Not the mini-flu that comes with being injected with the virus but the full-blown-knock-down-drag-out-this-is-what-was-trying-to-avoid flu. Vaccines don't always work, not even with decades of research and trials behind them. I'd rather take every other precaution and just leave the weird injections to someone else until there's more proof in the pudding.

[ladygreek]

My daughter is outside of the age range, but even if she wasn't I wouldn't want her to get the vac. There are too many disclaimers and qualifiers.