• Home
• About PaMed
• FAQs
• Site Map
• Contact Us

• CME
  • CME Activities
  • CME Tracker: The CME Organizer
  • Meetings and Seminars
  • Requirements and Accreditation
• Government
  • State of Medicine 2007
  • Capitol Insight
  • Contact Legislators
  • Laws Affecting Physicians
  • News from Harrisburg
  • PAMPAC and Political Support
• Newsletters
  • Capitol Insight
  • Consult
  • Converge
  • intouch
  • Patient Connection
  • Studies in Patient Safety
  • Vital Lines
• Patient Care
  • Disease Management
  • Family Health and Wellness
  • Find-A-Physician
  • Patient Safety
  • Public Health
  • Patient Connection
• Practice Management
  • Health Insurers
  • HIPAA
  • Medicare/Medicaid
  • Meetings and Seminars
  • Running a Practice
  • Vital Lines
• Resources
  • Affiliates & Sections
  • Board of Trustees
  • County Medical Societies
  • Endorsed Vendors
  • House of Delegates
  • JobBank
  • Media
  • Member Directory
  • Membership
  • Specialty Societies
  • Staff Directory

State Society Says Female Patients Should Receive HPV Vaccine

Physicians should encourage female patients between ages nine and 26 to be vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV), the most common sexually transmitted infectious disease. The Pennsylvania Medical Society’s House of Delegates in 2006 passed a resolution supporting use of the HPV vaccine and encouraging insurance companies to cover the vaccine.

Gardasil is effective against the four types of HPV virus (6,11,16, and 18) that are responsible for 70 percent of cervical cancers in women and 90 percent of genital warts in both men and women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The vaccine, given in three intramuscular injections over six months, is most effective on those younger than 15 and when administered before the patient is sexually active, the CDC said. It does not treat existing HPV infections and does not protect against HIV/AIDS, other strains of HPV and genital warts, and other sexually transmitted diseases. 

Tests in more than 11,000 patients have revealed no serious side effects to the vaccine, the CDC said. The most recent data shows that full immunity lasts up to five years. The CDC offers physician information on the vaccine, and the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation offers patient information.