By: Kristen Tomaiolo
Posted In: News
Photo credit: Donna Harrington-Lueker
HPV
Dr. Michelle Lally, infectious disease specialist and assistant professor at Brown University’s School of Medicine, will present a lecture on HPV (human papilloma virus) and its new vaccine on Tuesday , March 20, at 7 p.m. in McAuley 105.
Lally’s talk on HPV and its new vaccine, GARDASIL, will be followed by a question and answer session and refreshments for audience members. Lally contacted Salve Regina University’s Health Services department because she felt young women and men should be made aware of the virus and know its effects. Lally’s talk will focus on three main questions: What is HPV? What happens if I get HPV? Should I receive the new HPV vaccine? “As an educational institution, we want to provide students with the information on the virus,” Mary Kay Connell said, R.N.P, director of Salve Regina University’s Health Services Department. “They can make up their own minds about it after.” Both women and men are invited to this informational session and should take caution with the HPV virus. Even though men cannot develop cervical cancer, they can be carriers of the virus and potentially infect a partner. As of right now, men cannot receive the vaccine in the United States, only Australia and New Zealand have made the vaccine available to both sexes. Currently, the vaccine is available to women between the ages of 9 and 26. There are 80 types of HPV and the vaccine GARDASIL can protect against four strands of the virus that are known to cause cancer. Only a handful of HPV viruses actually cause cancer. The vaccine is given in three injections all within a year. On March 30th, Health Services and The Wellness Company, a medical services organization, from Providence, RI will offer the GARDASIL vaccine on Salve Regina’s campus. If interested, contact the company at (401)-461-0662 or e-mail at office@thewellcomp.com to reserve a vaccine and discuss insurance coverage. The vaccine can run anywhere from $140-$160 per dosage. For more information, visit their website at www.thewellcomp.com If hesitant on receiving the vaccine, this informative session will provide the answers to questions and eliminate common misconceptions of HPV and the vaccine. “It’s to protect people and hopefully eradicate this disease,” Connell said. “Not for people to become more sexually active.” People interested in attending the free, public lecture are asked to RSVP to The Wellness Company by calling (401)-461-0662 or emailing office@thewellcomp.com. Although reservations are required, Connell said they will welcome walk-ins, because the topic is of such importance and relevant to every life.
