Pediatrics at Sussex Family Practice

Is your child up to date with all immunizations? Download entire immunization schedule.pdf

+ + + + + + + + + + +

A brand new way to help Prevent Cervical Cancer

If you or someone in your household is a female between the ages of 9 and 26 years of age, please keep reading this important information.  Just out in the last few months is a vaccine from Merck that can help prevent cervical cancer by targeting the virus that causes the disease, Human Papillomaviurs (HPV).

HPV is a virus that is spread through sexual activity.  In 2005, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated that 20 million people in the United States had the virus and that at least 50% of sexually active people catch HPV during their lifetime.

There are many different types of HPV, and some cause no harm.  Certain strains of the virus (especially types 6, 11, 16, and 18) are more likely to cause the cells in the lining of the cervix to change from normal to precancerous lesions.  These are the types of the virus that are targeted by the new vaccine, Gardasil.  While there are more than 100 HPV types, these 4 cause approximately 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of genital warts.

The vaccinations are a 3 dose series given as follows:

First dose:  a date you choose-Second dose: 2 months after first dose-Third dose 6 months after first dose

As usual we encourage you to contact your insurance about coverage since this is a fairly new vaccine.  Feel free to contact one of the doctors at Sussex Family Practice today if you have further questions about the vaccine or cervical cancer screening.  We are here to serve you.

Drs. Hughes, Davis, Bradley and Aune