Anti-cancer Vaccine Recommended for Wyoming Girls

Monday, April 2, 2007
Wyoming Department of Health

The Wyoming Department of Health’s director is encouraging Wyoming parents to ensure their daughters receive a relatively new vaccine that helps protect against cervical cancer. The vaccine is available in Wyoming for free or at minimal cost.

Dr. Brent Sherard said his department recently expanded coverage for the Gardasil vaccine through its Wyoming Vaccinates Important People (WyVIP) program to include all female children of Wyoming residents between the ages of 9 and 18. Previously, the program covered the vaccine only for females between the ages of 11 and 12.

Gardasil protects against the four types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that can cause cervical cancer and genital warts. Cervical cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women around the world. Every year approximately 10,000 American women get cervical cancer, and about 3,700 of them die because of the disease.

"Because HPV is very common and is sexually transmitted, I recommend girls receive the vaccine well before they ever become sexually active," Sherard said.

Under the WyVIP program Wyoming families will not be charged for the cost of the Gardasil itself, which typically runs more than $110 a dose. However, they may be asked to cover an administration fee. To be effective, the vaccine is given in three doses over several months.

Sherard said the expanded offering of Gardasil through WyVIP is dependent on available funding. "At this point I do not anticipate problems, but we will monitor the budget and make future program adjustments if they are needed."

Not all Wyoming medical professionals participate with the state’s WyVIP program. Sherard recommends parents contact their daughter’s physician or local public health office to ask about getting the vaccine through the program.

Gardasil is not a mandatory immunization for Wyoming school children.

"Although Gardasil helps protect against cervical cancer, women who receive the vaccine should still continue to receive regular Pap smears and cervical cancer screening," Sherard said. Sherard also noted Gardasil is effective in preventing HPV infection, but not in curing HPV infection in those who have already been infected.

For more information about the WyVIP program, call 307-777-8981 or visit www.immunizewyoming.com.