Planned Parenthood of San Diego & Riverside Counties recently received an anonymous gift of nearly $300,000 to provide Gardasil, the HPV vaccine, at its family planning centers. “Gardasil significantly reduces a woman’s risk of cervical cancer because it is 100% effective in protecting against 70% of the strains of HPV that cause cervical cancer,” said Katharine Sheehan, M.D., Medical Director of the local Planned Parenthood.
Although Gardasil is available to girls as young as nine years old, the Planned Parenthood gift is specifically aimed to support vaccinating 19-26 year-old women. “The Vaccines For Children Program offers the HPV vaccine to females 18 years old and younger, so we felt it was important to reach a population that is no longer eligible for that immunization program,” said Dr. Sheehan. “The HPV vaccine is effective for women over 18 years old, and Planned Parenthood is pleased to offer it.”
For more than 90 years, Planned Parenthood has been America’s most trusted provider of reproductive health care services. Through 19 centers in San Diego and Riverside counties, Planned Parenthood provides contraception, testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, emergency contraception, pregnancy testing, and abortion services. To schedule an appointment for Gardasil, contraception or testing and treatment for sexually transmitted infections, please visit planned.org or call toll-free (888) 743-PLAN (7526).