Planned Parenthood Greater Memphis Region offers Gardasil vaccine to girls and women. Gardasil vaccine protects against Humanpapilloma Viruses (HPV) that can cause genital warts in men and women and cervical cancer in women.
The Gardasil vaccine is apprvoed for girls and women aged 13 to 26. The Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) has recommended the vaccine be routinely given to girls aged 11-12 years old. It is also recommended for older girls and women who did not receive the vaccine when they were younger. Ideally, the Gardasil vaccine should be administered before the onset of sexual activity. However, young women who are sexually active should still be vaccinated.
Gardasil is given in three doses as an injection in the arm or thigh. The second and third doses should be administered 2 and 6 months after the first dose. All three doses are required to acheive maximum protection.
Many adolescents and young adults qualify for a program known as Vaccines for Children (VFC) that provides vaccines at low cost to families that qualify.
The following groups are eligible for the Vaccines for Children program:
Children on TennCare or Medicaid or who are eligible for TennCare or Medicaid
Children without health insurance
Children whose health insurance doesn't cover vaccinations
American Indian and Alaska native children
PPGMR provides Gardasil vaccine at $13 per dose to girls and young women who qualify for the Vaccines for Children program. Those who do not qualify for VFC may qualify for other assistance to help them get the vaccine. To find out more, please call (901) 725-1717.
