TRICARE Covers HPV vaccine

  • Published
  • By CiCi Cea
  • TriWest Healthcare Alliance
MCCONNELL AIR FORCE BASE, Kan. --  Human papilloma virus infection is a concern for girls and young women because it can lead to cervical cancer. A preventive vaccine is available, and that vaccine is now a TRICARE-covered benefit.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved the HPV vaccine for females 9 to 26 years of age to help prevent cervical cancer caused by the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a three-dose schedule for the HPV vaccine with the second and third doses administered two and six months after the first dose. Routine vaccination for girls 11 to 12 years old is also recommended.

Because the vaccine is new, it may not be available everywhere. Also, the new vaccine does not protect against every type of HPV infection and can't prevent all cervical cancers. It is still important for women who get the vaccine to get regular gynecological exams and pap smears.

The CDC reported that in 2006 approximately 9,700 cases of cervical cancer were diagnosed in the United States, and approximately 3,700 women died from the disease.

Cervical infection with HPV is the main risk for cervical cancer, as HPV can cause changes in the cervix. In fact, nearly all cervical cancer cases are associated with an HPV infection.

TRICARE West Region beneficiaries interested in obtaining the HPV vaccine should contact their physician to find out if they administer the vaccine. Beneficiaries should visit TriWest online at www.triwest.com with questions regarding their TRICARE benefits, or contact TriWest Healthcare Alliance at 1-888-TRIWEST (874-9378).

McConnell's immunization clinic is issuing the vaccine but has a limited supply of it. For this reason, clinic staff members are requesting females between 11 and 18 receive the vaccine first, until more arrives. The clinic will administer the vaccine on a first come first serve basis. Due to the limited supply, people should call the clinic at 759-5054 before anticipating the vaccine.

The clinic hours of operation are Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.