Yelena Ovcharenko
LV Life Editor

Recently the Food and Drug Administration approved a vaccine to prevent the Human Papillomavirus, the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer among other things. The vaccine is called Gardasil.

However, despite this medical breakthrough, the cure has a price tag that keeps it out of reach for some of the young women who need it most.

Even though the vaccine is approved for marketing by the FDA to girls and women ages 9 to 26, many insurance companies will not cover this vaccine. Women who want it must to pay $350 out of pocket.

“From an ethical side I think that they should cover it because who knows how the student got it,” said Elizabeth Keagy, a sophomore economics major.

Several students with HPV have turned to the University of La Verne’s Health Center for assistance.

“We have seen more each year,” said Cynthia Denne, director of student health services.

Unfortunately, ULV’s insurance plan does not cover any vaccines.

“I think that they should cover everything, but the reality is that they can’t,” Denne said

If the University’s health insurance were to cover vaccines, then the insurance cost would increase.

“We try to keep the policy down to where you don’t pay too much,” Denne said.

However, some students are upset that Merck, the vaccine’s marketer, set a high price and that many insurance companies do not completely cover the vaccine.

Girls and women from their teens to 30 are at the greatest risk for developing cervical cancer.

“If it’s that big of a threat to us, I think it should be more accessible to everybody,” said Diana Ramirez, a junior political science major.

Nevertheless, Gardasil is the first and only vaccine available for the prevention of HPV strains of cervical cancer, vulvar pre-cancers and genital warts.

HPV has more than 100 viral strains, most of which are relatively harmless and cause commons warts that appear on hands and feet.

About 30 strains of the virus affect the genital area.

Two strains cause 90 percent of genital warts, and two other strains cause 70 percent of cervical cancer.

HPV could also cause abnormal but noncancerous changes in the cervix.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 20 million American men and women have HPV, and that at least 50 percent of sexually active people will get genital HPV.

Cervical cancer is the second most common cause of cancerous death in women.

“If you have reason to suspect that you have it, you have to come in right away and have us look at it,” Denne said. “Timing is very critical.”

The virus might spread fast and unaware partners might get infected as well.

It is difficult for clinics to immediately stock up on the vaccine because it has a short shelf life, and the clinic loses money if vaccines are not used.

But the vaccine is of definite interest to the health clinic, Denne said.

“[At this point] everything that you do at the Health Center is free,” Denne said.

A Pap smear is done on a patient, if the results come back highly suspicious the student is sent to a gynecologist.

“Everything we dispense is covered by insurance,” Denne said.

“I think what’s going to happen by and large is most women will get this [vaccine] from family doctors before they come to college,” Denne said. “We just don’t get that much when we're going through high school.”

HPV generally does not have symptoms, therefore, Pap smears are recommended annually for women.

All strains of the virus that affect the genital area would cause abnormal Pap smear test results.

Additionally, the East Valley Clinic that the University partnerships with, does free anonymous testing.

“It is a cure for cancer, but it’s so expensive,” said Wendy Lopez, sophomore criminology major.

Yelena Ovcharenko can be reached at yovcharenko@ulv.edu.