HPV Vaccine Out of Reach for College Students

A new vaccine that protects against the human papillomavirus (HPV) and the cervical cancer it can cause could be an invaluable contribution to women's health. With 80 percent of women contracting some form of HPV before they turn 50 and 3,700 women dying of cervical cancer every year in the United States alone, the vaccine's "Tell Someone" campaign is about more than selling shots -- it's about saving lives. But for the thousands of women who rely on student insurance for their healthcare costs, the vaccine remains out of reach.

Eight months after the Food and Drug Administration approved the vaccine Gardasil for women and girls between ages 9 and 26, many universities do not cover it under their student health plans. Others do not even stock it at their health centers, leaving many college-aged women worried about how they can best protect themselves against HPV.

Fran Gillespie, a senior at New York University, is one of these women. When she went home for winter break this December, she found out that one of her friends had contracted HPV and developed pre-cancerous cells from the virus. Gillespie, who had never heard of HPV before her friend's experience, made an appointment with her private gynecologist to be immunized -- only to be told that she would have to pay nearly $400 because her NYU student insurance did not cover Gardasil. She cancelled the appointment, deciding to wait until she returned to campus.

"I was sure that NYU could provide the same service," Gillespie said. "And because it's for students, they would offer a rate that students can afford."

But when she called the university health center, she was told that the vaccine was not covered by student insurance, and she would have to pay out of pocket. NYU charges $130 per shot for the three-shot immunization.

"I just don't have that kind of money," Gillespie said. "Health insurance and women's issues are the most basic level that a university should have concerns for."

Gillespie still has not been vaccinated, and says that she plans to "just wait" until her insurance plan is expanded.

Unlike NYU, which does make the vaccine available on campus for students who want to pay out-of-pocket or with private insurance, some colleges do not even offer the vaccine. Virginia's James Madison University, for example, still does not stock Gardasil in their student health center, opting instead to write students a prescription that they can have filled at a local pharmacy.

The Facts About HPV

The most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States, HPV can cause cervical cancer, genital warts, and a series of other health problems. There are 6.2 million new cases of HPV in the United States each year, and 20 million people currently live with the virus. Unlike bacterial STIs such as Chlamydia and gonorrhea, which are easily treatable with antibiotics, the warts associated with HPV are signs of a permanent viral infection -- you can get them removed, but the virus will remain in your system.

While some strains can cause visible genital or anal warts, the virus is often asymptomatic. Men are less likely than women to show signs of most types of HPV infections, and because the virus can be passed on even in the absence of symptoms, people often think they are safe when they are not. Even condoms may not offer total protection against HPV.

Karen (who asked that her real name not be used), a 27-year-old law student, is well aware of how easily the virus can spread -- she contracted HPV from her high school boyfriend, and was diagnosed with genital warts at 16.

"I think I found out about HPV by getting it," she said. "My experience going through it was really awful. This self-imposed stigma that you have is something that no one should have to go through if it's an option to prevent it."