Gardasil

An important medical breakthrough.

    A new, potentially life-saving vaccine, recently approved by the FDA and recommended by the national Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, is now available for girls and young women age 9 to 26. Like vaccines for diseases such as measles or hepatitis, this new medication is important to lifelong good health.
    This vaccine, called Gardasil, protects young women from contracting the four types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that cause more than 70 percent of deadly cervical cancers and 90 percent of genital warts. HPV is passed from person to person through sexual contact and about 50 percent of men and women have contracted it.
    Gardasil is groundbreaking because it is the firstmedication proven to prevent a cancer. Here at the NorthBay Center for Primary Care we believe Gardasil is so important that it’s now on our recommended vaccination schedule for our female patients 11 and older. Most other primary care physicians across the country are recommending the vaccination as well.
    Gardasil is given as a three-shot series, administered over a six-month period. The vaccine has been tested in more than 10,000 young women and girls and is considered very safe and effective. The most common side effect is pain and swelling at the injection site, which is expected with most vaccines.
    Some parents might be uncomfortable vaccinating girls as young as 9 for a virus that is almost exclusively sexually transmitted, but the reason is extremely important. The vaccine is almost 100 percent effective in preventing HPV-caused cervical cancer, as long as the young woman has not been exposed to any of the four virus types covered by the vaccine.
    Once exposure has occurred, Gardasil is less effective, so vaccinating girls long before they become sexually active is essential. This doesn’t mean that sexually active young women shouldn’t receive Gardasil. The vaccine still provides a great deal of protection for them, just not 100 percent protection.
    The vaccine is currently not recommended to women older than 26, only because Gardasil has not been fully tested on older women. New age range recommendations may come from further testing efforts.
Preventing cervical cancer is absolutely necessary because it is a dangerous and devastating disease. About 10,000 new cases of cervical cancer are diagnosed every year, and 4,000 of those women are expected to die from it. Three simple shots can protect young women and girls from a great deal of suffering.
    Gardasil may also prove to be good news for boys and young men. Studies are underway to determine the effectiveness of the vaccine on males, since HPV is linked to an increased risk of penile and anal cancers. Plus the vaccine could prevent men from spreading HPV infections to others. When the research is complete, this vaccine may be licensed and recommended for boys and young men as well.
    One important note: Because HPV is not responsible for all cervical cancers, women should continue to have routine pap smears and pelvic exams. Additionally, Gardasil does not prevent sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, so practicing safe sex continues to be essential for everyone.
    For more information about the Gardasil vaccine, talk with your doctor. You can also read more at the Centers for Disease Control Web site at www.cdc.gov.

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Dr. Andrea Wong is double board-certified in internal medicine and pediatrics. She cares for patients at the NorthBay Center for Primary Care in Fairfield and can be reached at (707) 399-1000.

The Solano Coalition for Better Health (Coalition) is a countywide nonprofit organization comprised of healthcare providers, county health and social services, educational institutions, community organizations, and neighborhood advocates. Since its inception in 1988, the Coalition has developed successful programs and effective partnerships that have improved the health of Solano County residents.

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