Considerations of Gardisil

Although Gardisil is promoting a great product that will prevent cervical cancer, but the prospect of mandating a vaccine against a sexually transmitted disease for preteen girls does not sit well with some parents. Many fear that it will be one more strike against abstinence education. And others simply feel it is a decision that needs to be made within one's family.

Marketing campaigns for Gardisil have omitted important information about HPV (Human papillomavirus) and how it is spread. While it may indeed be an effective tool for reducing the likelihood of developing cervical cancer, parents and older patients need far more information to make an informed decision than what is provided in the advertising.

Getting the Gardisil shots is not enough. The continued importance of regular pap smears and HPV screenings will have a dramatic impact on cervical cancer rates, perhaps eliminating 70-75% of all cervical cancers.

Cervical Cancer Vaccine Gardisil

There are two main types of cervical cancers, squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma. And close to eighty some ninety percent of cervical cancers are classified as squamous cell carcinoma, while the remainder fall into the adenocarcinoma category. On June 8, 2006, the USFDA approved a vaccine against human papillomavirus marketed by Merck and Company. Television commercials appeared touting Gardisil, the new “cervical cancer vaccine” which is recommended for girls and women ages 9 to 26.

Gardisil is a vaccine that immunizes against the four most common types of sexually transmitted HPV (Types 6, 11, 16, and 18). Types 6 and 11 are said to be unlikely to lead to pre-cancerous changes, though these strains cause about 90% of genital warts. Types 16 and 18 cause about 70% of cervical cancers. The vaccine is most effective when used prior to any exposure to the virus, hence the recommended age is rather early. Gardisil consists of three injections (costing approximately $120 per shot) over a six-month period.

Private insurance covers the Gardisil vaccine, typically paying around 80% after a deductible is met. The vaccine is currently voluntary in most states, though some have introduced legislation to make the vaccine mandatory for all girls prior to entering the sixth grade.