Student health to host Gardasil event

Keri A. Barksdale, Staff Writer
Published On: 10/13/2008

On Wednesday, the UAB Student Health Center will hold a Gardasil vaccination event, with special appointments set aside for women who are interested in being vaccinated against cervical cancer, or learning more about the Gardasil vaccine.

The event will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and while appointments for this special event are encouraged, walk-in patients will be seen all day.

One of the national managers from Merck Pharmaceutical Company, as well as a local Merck representative, will be on hand to answer any questions or concerns women have about the Gardasil vaccine.

Information concerning potential risks and side effects of receiving the vaccine will be readily available, as well as information regarding the many benefits to being vaccinated.

The Gardasil vaccine is geared to young women aged 9-26, and targets four types of human papilloma virus, which is responsible for 90% of genital warts cases and 70% of cervical cancer cases.

The sexually transmitted virus affects males and females with equal occurrence, and since the virus often causes no symptoms, it can be unknowingly transmitted.

Rates of cervical cancer in the world are highest in developing countries, but still significant in the United States. In fact, Alabama has the highest cervical cancer occurrence in the country.

Thomas Broker, Ph.D., a leading researcher in the HPV field and UAB professor of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, believes strongly in the Gardasil vaccine for all women.

“We should really do all we can to eradicate this disease from our planet, and start vaccinating young girls as early as reasonably possible, before they become sexually active,” he said. “Cervical cancer kills 1,000 women per day. These women are our sisters, our mothers, and our friends. We in the U.S. need to accept this vaccine and show that it works, which will spread confidence in Gardasil to the rest of the world. In this way, we can get it working in developing countries, which also desperately need it.”

Aimee Holland, a women’s health specialist and nurse practitioner at the UAB Student Health Center, is heading up the event and is very excited for UAB students to have this opportunity.

“We are very excited about this special event, and have set it aside just for those women who are curious about the Gardasil vaccine, or have wanted to get vaccinated and not taken the time. This is also an excellent opportunity for the local Merck representatives to see what the UAB Student Health Services is doing to promote health and wellness.”
Elizabeth Mitchell, a graduate student in the Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, feels this is a good time to learn more about Gardasil, and be vaccinated against cervical cancer.

“I think I will go and check it out, both to become informed about the vaccine and to be vaccinated,” she said. “I haven’t had the chance until now, and this event is the perfect opportunity.”

The Merck Pharmaceutical Company does not promise protection against all types of cervical cancer, is considered a healthy, proactive step in the protection against most types of genital warts and cervical cancer. The company also recommends that regular screenings still be done, and reminds women that the injection does not treat cervical cancer or genital warts.

Email: kayaybee@uab.edu