Opinion Board | Take health seriously

When it comes to combating HPV, Penn's student health-insurance program needs a shot in the arm.

Human papillomavirus, the leading cause of cervical cancer, is expected to kill another 3,700 American women this year. But with the development of Gardasil, a vaccine that protects against four most dangerous types of the virus, scientists have finally found a way to halt the spread of this frighteningly common sexually transmitted disease.

There's only one problem: The three-dose vaccine is fairly expensive, costing almost $400. And at that price, many female college students are willing to take their chances.

Credit to universities like Yale and Brown, as well as many private healthcare companies, that have taken the initiative to include Gardasil in their health plans, making it far more affordable.

Unfortunately, Penn hasn't.

Apparently, University health officials decided that the vaccine was too costly to include in Penn's insurance plan.

That's unacceptable.

Female students who rely on the University's insurance program shouldn't be forced to choose between their wallets and their well-being.

In doing so, Penn would perform a tremendous public service in the fight against cervical cancer.

The HPV vaccine offers a rare opportunity to greatly reduce the spread of a dangerous STD and prevent cervical cancer on a global scale. That's why so many doctors and public-health organizations across the country, including the American Cancer Society, have encouraged young women to get the vaccine, despite the initial controversy surrounding the implications of its availability.

In doing so, they've made it clear that Gardasil is an essential component of any health insurance plan.

And if Penn wants to be a leader in the healthcare industry, the least it can do is offer its students the latest in medical treatment.

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