By Lauren Felechner
Published: November 02, 2009

By Lauren Felechner
Daily Titan Staff Writer

We have all seen the commercials for GARDASIL, the vaccine for Human Papillomavirus (HPV) for girls and women. However, with the recent Food and Drug Administration approval of the vaccine for guys, maybe we will be seeing boys and men in those commercials as well.

The vaccine was approved for the use in boys and men ages 9 to 26 on Oct. 16 by the FDA for the prevention of genital warts in males. Warts can be caused by HPV types 6 and 11 which cause about 90 percent of genital warts cases, according to MERCK.com, the vaccine also protects against types 16 and 18.

Mary Hermann, director of Health Education at CSUF, said the Health Center has been offering GARDASIL to female students for some time now. With the recent approval of the vaccination for men, appointments may become available to male students as well.

“It’s the same exact vaccine for both men and women,” Hermann said. “It immunizes (against) the four strains of HPV which are all linked to cervical cancer and two for genital warts.”

Men can carry HPV without being aware of it unless they are affected by genital warts. Even then, there are no long-term effects of HPV for them, Hermann said. Women infected with genital warts carry the risk of it turning into cervical cancer.

“Some people think ‘this isn’t going to happen to me,’” Hermann said, “and we don’t have women rushing to the Health Center to get this vaccine and protect themselves, so how are we going to expect men to do the same?”

Psychology major Megan Forte, 22, agreed with Hermann.

“I didn’t even know there was a vaccine available for guys. I think that if more people knew about it, and knew the reasons for getting it, then a vast amount of more guys and girls would be getting the vaccine,” Forte said.

Forte, who is single and dating, believes this vaccine is something that she would bring up with future boyfriends. She has not received the HPV vaccine, but is not opposed to it either.

“I think the majority of young men in their late teens and early twenties have other things on their mind than getting a shot that’s going to possibly prevent cancer from their potential partners … I think that guys that are in committed relationships would be more than willing to get it,” Forte said.
History major Dustin Fisher, 28, is in a monogamous relationship and agreed with Forte on her standpoint with men who are in committed relationships.

“First off, one of my biggest fears is catching an STD, so I protect myself. And I see this shot as just another way to do that – to protect me and my girlfriend,” Fisher said. “But she has to get it too then.”

The vaccine is a set of three injections over a six-month period, Hermann said. It is offered at $130 per injection at the Health Center, which could be pricey for most students, which is is why they are also encouraged to look into their personal health insurance if interested in the vaccine. Due to the cost, Hermann has noticed that people who begin the immunization process don’t often finish it.
“I think it takes a real man to realize it can only benefit them in their future to actually go get it. But hey if you want a bump on your junk, then so be it,” Fisher said.

Hermann believes the decision whether or not to receive the injections is a controversial issue amongst the age group it is directed toward.

“This is definitely a protective shield for women for the men to get this vaccine,” Hermann said.
Although the vaccines may be running a bit high cost-wise, there is no price for the possibility of jeopardizing our future health and future relationships.