D.C Requires Girls to Get HPV Vaccine

The District of Columbia's City Council voted in favor of requiring that all girls entering into the sixth grade in 2009 to be vaccinated with the HPV vaccine. The District is among several states attempting to make the new vaccine a requirement for young girls. Texas has already passed an legislation requiring the vaccine for the 2008 school year.

What is HPV? "HPV (human papillomavirus) is a virus that is common in the United States and around the world and can cause cancer and genital warts. HPV is spread through sexual contact. There are about 100 types of HPV. HPV is the major cause cervical cancer in women and is also associated with several other types of cancer in both men and women," according to the CDC website. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection. It is most prominent in men and women in their teens and early 20's.

Even though the virus can affect men and women the vaccine is only designed to be beneficial for women between ages 9 and 26. There is currently an effort to make vaccines which would benefit women outside of this current age limit and men as well. The vaccine is most effective when given before sexual activity occurs, which is why the encouragement to have it as early as 9.

Leading the research team whose findings led to the vaccine, Doctor Richard Schlegel of Georgetown University Medical Center, said,"The impact on public health issues in this country is profound. It's going to have a tremendous impact for women, as well as men."

The HPV vaccine is given in three doses the first two shots are given one month apart with the third shot given at six months after the shots began. Currently there is only one vaccine approved for HPV. It is 'Guardasil' produced by the pharmaceutical company Merck. Glaxosmithkline is currently in the final stages of clinical trials for their version of a HPV vaccine.

The cost of the vaccine is around $120 per shot or 360 for the entire set according to the CDC. It is possible that the vaccine may be available at local Health Departments at reduced cost or for free if qualified.