Painful side effects from one of the newest vaccinations may have patients writhing long after they have left the doctor's office.
Gardasil is the only vaccine available to help prevent the sexually transmitted disease proven to cause cervical cancer, human papillomavirus. But, it's now also gaining a reputation as the most painful injection for young women.
There have been increasing reports of patients fainting and claiming soreness at the injection site for up to a day after receiving Gardasil, according to the Associated Press.
"It's a cold injection, so it stings," says nursing junior Ashley Richtsmeier. "But tenderness occurred for the next couple of hours."
Gardasil was released in 2006, and since then, there have been about 180 cases of fainting reported according to the Associated Press.
But still, the vaccination comes strongly recommended as a measure to help prevent cervical cancer, says Patricia Park, the on-site coordinator at ASU's downtown campus health center.
"At some point in most people's lives, they have sex with someone that may have had sex with another partner," Park says. "Because of the risk of transmission of the disease, that's where the immunization is needed."
Gardasil's high price is causing a low administration rate, contrary to what some doctors would like. Each shot costs $120 and the total vaccination requires three shots over six months to be completely effective.
Park says the health centers at all campuses offer the shot, and that many insurance companies are covering the cost, including the student insurance program.
Reach the reporter at: jmhende1@asu.edu.
