Free HPV Resources Available
Missouri Foundation for Health recently committed $11 million to purchase enough HPV vaccine, Gardasil®, so that every uninsured or underinsured Missouri girl and woman ages 9-26 can receive the vaccine for FREE. This vaccine can prevent cervical cancer — one of the leading cancers among women. The vaccine protects against four types of the human papillomavirus (HPV) which are responsible for most cases of cervical cancer and genital warts. The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have certified Gardasil® as safe and effective when given in three doses over a six-month period.
Normally, the three-dose vaccine costs more than $350. But through the MFH grant, it's FREE to girls and women ages 9-26 who are not covered by adequate insurance, or who do not qualify for either Medicaid or the Vaccines for Children (VFC) program. In other words, if you know someone who doesn't have health insurance, or if their insurance doesn't cover the HPV vaccine, or they cannot afford the health insurance co-payment/deductible, she can receive all three doses of the vaccine for free.
There are 127 health centers/clinics in the MFH service area where girls and women can get the vaccine for free. Please encourage women to make an appointment today for themselves or someone they love to get the vaccine.
Please also spread the word about HPV and the free vaccine against cervical cancer to other organizations, churches and groups in your area. You might want to:
- Check out a Missouri-focused website with lots of information — www.mohpv.org
- Contact the nearest health center on the enclosed list and ask for information about HPV & the vaccine that you can provide to people you know.
Cervical cancer is a terrible disease, and together we can help reduce the number of women in Missouri at risk. MFH has removed the financial barrier – free means FREE, period. Now spread the word. Encourage them to make the appointment today!