NEWS
MONTGOMERY COUNTY OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS
COURT HOUSE, NORRISTOWN, PA., BOX 311, 19404-0311
PHONE (610) 278-3061 FAX 278-5943
COMMISSIONERS:
THOMAS JAY ELLIS, ESQ. Chairman, JAMES R. MATTHEWS , RUTH S. DAMSKER
RELEASE: IMMEDIATELY 02/08/07 PR#07-07
HPV VACCINE AVAILABLE THROUGH HEALTH DEPARTMENT
NORRISTOWN — The Montgomery County Commissioners want parents to know that the new HPV vaccine for the prevention of cervical cancer is available through the County Health Department and encourage them to have their daughters vaccinated.
People who have insurance and can go to their private doctors for the shots are encouraged to do so. Those who are uninsured, under-insured, on medical assistance or whose doctors are not administering the shots can get them from the Health Department.
The Health Department will provide the shots to young women between the ages of nine and 18, but is targeting 11- and 12-year-olds.
Human Papillomavirus refers to a group of 100 viruses, more than 30 of which can be passed by sexual contact. It is the most common type of Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) and can result in cervical cancer, which may result in a hysterectomy, or genital warts.
Gardasil, manufactured by Merck, protects against four types of HPV, two of which cause about 70 percent of cervical cancer and two of which cause about 90 percent of genital warts.
Parents should also know that they can get the meningitis vaccine, Menactra, for their children through the Health Department. Meningococcal disease is a serious bacterial infection that can cause meningitis and sepsis.
