The Camrose Canadian

Posted By VANESSA HAUSER SAIT
12.18.09

Posted 10 hours ag0

The high cost and side effects of the Gardasil vaccine are deterring some women from getting the newly developed injection.

Gardasil targets women aged nine to 26, preventing against four strains of the HPV virus (types 6, 11, 16 and 18), as well as the several diseases associated with these types, including cervical cancer, abnormal and precancerous cervical cells, vaginal and vulvar cancers, abnormal and precancerous vaginal and vulvar cells and genital warts.

While many health care facilities are providing coverage for the vaccine, some women are left with a hefty bill if their health care insurance does not cover it. The average cost for the vaccine, according to the Patented Medicine Prices review board, is approximately $134 per injection. The three injections required over six months cost a total of $402.

“I have currently had two doses of the vaccine,” said student Christine Meier. “Being a student, it has been somewhat of a struggle to find the funds to pay for it.”

According to HPVinfo.ca, there are over 200 different types of the HPV virus. Most types of HPV are completely harmless, have no signs or symptoms and clear up without treatment. However, over 30 types of HPV virus are sexually trans-mitted diseases.

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