HPV Vaccine Now Available!

What is HPV?

HPV, the human papillomavirus, is a virus that is passed by skin-to-skin contact. Often, people who are infected with the virus have no symptoms, but some types of HPV can cause cervical cancer, pre-cancerous lesions or genital warts. Even without symptoms, the virus can be passed from one person to another.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is estimated that 20 million people in the U.S. have the HPV virus. HPV causes almost all cases of cervical cancer, which is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women worldwide. Each day, ten women die because of cervical cancer. Every year, about 10,000 women in the U.S. are diagnosed with invasive cervical cancer.

What is the HPV vaccine?

The HPV vaccine, Gardasil, is a vaccine that provides protection against the diseases caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16 and 18. HPV types 16 and 18 are responsible for 70 percent of all cervical cancers, and HPV types 6 and 11 are responsible for 90 percent of genital warts.

Gardasil is FDA-approved for girls and women ages 9 to 26. In fact, the CDC recommends routine HPV vaccination for girls 11 and 12 years of age. The vaccine is given in three separate injections over the course of six months.

Where can I get the HPV vaccine?

The HPV vaccine is now available at 18 Planned Parenthood of Indiana health centers: Bloomington, Castleton (Indianapolis), Columbus, Eastside (Indianapolis), Evansville, Ft. Wayne, Hammond, Lafayette, Madison, Merrillville, Midtown (Indianapolis), Mishawaka, Muncie, Northwest (Indianapolis), Richmond, Southside (Indianapolis), Terre Haute and Warsaw.

Contact your nearest health center for more details and to make your appointment.