Speaking Of HPV…
Posted by: Amelia McDonell-Parry
Filed in:
sex
12:00PM, Wednesday March 5th 2008
Hey, you know Gardasil? The vaccine that is given in three doses to women up to age 26 which protects against certain strains of the Human Papilloma Virus, the number one cause of cervical cancer? Which by the way can be transmitted even if you use a condom? Well, as our Catherine discovered, many gynos don’t actually carry Gardasil in stock and it’s up to the patient to fill a prescription for the vaccine and bring it to their doc for injection. And as our Emily also discovered, most insurance providers don’t cover the $160 price tag because they don’t think the vaccine is “necessary”. Even though it’s an extremely effective preventative measure against a virus that can cause the kind of cancer that will kill nearly 4,000 women in the U.S. this year. Though, in the insurance companies’ defense, we suppose paying for the failed treatment for those 4,000 women may end up being cheaper. Anyway, we urge you to get the HPV-vaccine if you’re under the age of 26 and if your insurance doesn’t cover it, get on the horn and totally make it clear that your cervix is gonna be healthy and pissed.
TheFrisky.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network
Syphrite
wrote on March 5 2008 @ 12:38 pm: [report]
That is outrageous! What about the women in the country who can’t afford to pay $160 for a shot?
Catherine
wrote on March 5 2008 @ 12:40 pm: [report]
And, it’s not just one shot…it’s three!
Amelia
wrote on March 5 2008 @ 12:44 pm: [report]
What’s crazy is that insurance is supposed to treat you when you’re sick and help you NOT get sick.
user1
wrote on March 5 2008 @ 01:06 pm: [report]
It is very unfortunate that this reflects the state of healthcare in America, in the sense that insurance companies are still behind the rose-colored glasses in terms of preventative care.
Emily
wrote on May 19 2008 @ 08:55 am: [report]
update on this i filled a clam to my healthcare and the still denied me. I guess blue cross doesn’t take HPV very seriously…
LovesIt
wrote on May 19 2008 @ 09:13 am: [report]
I’m a bit wary of any drug or vaccine that hasn’t been on the market for very long. They’re just now starting clinical trials on the long-term effects and longevity of the vaccine (they don’t know if it stays in the body forever or for just a few years). But I’m a skeptic on most things!
Emily
wrote on May 19 2008 @ 09:17 am: [report]
@ LovesIt I agree with you I am a bit wary of the vaccine as well. But I also don’t want cervical cancer so I guess its a risk we have to take. I haven’t decided yet.
LovesIt
wrote on May 19 2008 @ 09:22 am: [report]
@Emily. In retrospect, a lot of my wariness comes from it sounding too good to be true (way to go Gardasil marketing team). I suppose it’s a matter of weighing your sexual behavior to risk level. Regardless, it should be covered by insurance or at least passed out at Planned Parenthood… especially considering all the recent reports on teen sex (and lack of any protection).
cbass8
wrote on May 19 2008 @ 10:47 am: [report]
I’m not a proponent of it myself. I look at all of the major major pharma f-ups and their long term side effects (infant vaccines & autism, those menopause estrogen boosters & breast cancer to name 2) and I personally would not get the shot, nor would I allow my child to get one.
We have enough fertility problems in this country - I look at this shot and I think of Children of Men.
dancerr10
wrote on July 31 2009 @ 05:49 pm: [report]
i actually went to a nearby health clinic that gave them for around 25 dollars per shot when i got mine