New Vaccines available
 
 

What is HPV? 

Genital human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted virus in the United States.  There are about 40 types of HPV.  About 20 million people in the U.S. are infected, and about 6.2 million more get infected each year.  HPV is spread through sexual contact.

Most HPV infections don't cause any symptoms, and go away on their own.  But HPV is important mainly because it can cause cervical cancer in women.  Every year in the U.S. about 10,000 women get cervical cancer and 3,700 die from it.  It is the 2nd leading cause of cancer deaths among women around the world. HPV is also associated with several less common types of cancer in both men and women.  It can cause gential warts and warts in the upper respiratory tract. More than 50% of sexually active men and women are infected with HPV at sometime in their lives.

There is no treatment for HPV infection, but the conditons is causes can be treated.

Routine Vaccination

HPV vaccine is routinely recommended for girls 11-12 years of age.  It may be given to girls as young as 9 years.  It is given in a 3-dose series:

  1. 1st Dose - Now
  2. 2nd Dose - 2 months after Dose 1
  3. 3rd Dose - 6 months after Dose 1

For more information regardin this vaccine you may ask your provider or you may refer to the CDC (center for disease control and prevention). 

 

What is Rotateq?

RotaTeq is a vaccine that can help protect your baby against the most common types of rotavirus.  Rotavirus, as you have probably guessed from its name, is a type of virus.  It causes an illness of the stomach and intestine called gastroenteritis.  RotaTeq is not a shot;  it is given by mouth in 3 doses.  The first dose can be given to your baby starting as early as 6 weeks of age.  RotaTeq was extensively tested in a large study and was approved by the FDA.*

RotaTeq helps protect against diarrhea and vomiting only if they are caused by rotavirus.  It does not protect against diarrhea and vomiting that are caused by anything else.  As with other vaccines, RotaTeq may not fully protect children who get the vaccine.

For more information regarding rotavirus or RotaTeq vaccine, you may ask your healthcare provider or visit:

*Food and Drug Administration



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