Vaccinations

HPV

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs). It is spread through direct skin-to-skin contact, most commonly through sexual contact (oral, vaginal, anal). Most individuals are not aware that they have the virus if they do not have any symptoms, but they may unknowingly spread it to others. HPV has many subtypes, many of which are harmless. However, some HPV subtypes are considered “higher risk” and can cause cellular changes which can lead to genital warts or cancer of the cervix, vulva, penis, anus, or areas in the mouth.

There is a vaccine available to help protect you against the types of HPV which cause genital warts and cancer. The vaccine is also known as Gardasil. The vaccine is given in a series of 3 separate shots. The second shot is given 1-2 months after the first, and the third shot is given 4 months after the second shot. So, in all, it takes about 6 months to get all 3 shots.  Shots can be given “late,” so even if you have travel plans that may interfere with this schedule, we can always start or continue the vaccine series.

UHS Primary Care offers the HPV vaccine to students by appointment. Occasionally throughout the academic year there are also HPV vaccination clinics, which will be announced in the @Rochester e-newsletter.

If you started the Gardasil series elsewhere and need to get a dose while you are at school, please bring documentation of previous dose(s) (with the date(s) given) to your appointment or ask the UHS front desk for a “Release of Information” or ROI form to sign so we can get records from your previous provider(s). If you are not sure if you have received the HPV vaccine series in the past and you do not have any records of having received the vaccines, it is safe to restart the vaccine series.

Hepatitis A

The CDC recommends hepatitis A vaccination for all “men who have sex with men,” which is an interesting category that can include LGBTQ people of any gender any time there is a non-detachable penis somewhere in the proverbial bedroom. Hepatitis A is a virus that affects the liver and can cause nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and jaundice which can last for months. Without vaccination, most people feel awful for a few months but recover on their own. There is no treatment for Hepatitis A except for time and symptom management. Hepatitis A can be prevented with a series of 2 vaccines, given 6 or more months apart.

Hepatitis B

The CDC recommends routine hepatitis B vaccination for all children. Unfortunately, sometimes immune markers to hepatitis B wane over time and people have to receive booster vaccines to maintain immunity. The CDC recommends hepatitis B testing (“titers”) in all men who have sex with men to assess for immunity; it’s also common for healthcare students and healthcare workers to have hepatitis B titers tested. If tests show low or no immunity to hepatitis B, healthcare workers and “men who have sex with men” (as above – this category can include LGBTQ people of any gender any time there is a non-detachable penis somewhere in the proverbial bedroom) may be recommended to receive hepatitis B vaccine booster(s).

Mpox

In response to the 2022 Mpox (monkeypox) outbreak, Monroe County hosts regular walk-in vaccination clinics for people at increased risk of infection, including “gay men and members of the bisexual, transgender, and gender non-conforming community and other communities of men who have sex with men” or people with a recent mpox exposure. This is not a vaccine we are currently able to offer at UHS, but one our students should be aware of. For more information on free mpox vaccinations available in Monroe county, please see the health department’s website.

Vaccination Costs

There is no charge for the administration of a vaccine provided at UHS Primary Care for full time students who pay the Mandatory Health Fee. However, there is a charge for the vaccine itself. The UR Student Health Insurance Plan (Aetna) covers the cost of immunizations given in accordance with CDC recommendations when you get them at an in-network provider, such as a UHS Primary Care provider. If you are not covered on this plan, we will submit a bill to your insurance company. Please contact your insurance company directly about coverage details. You are responsible for any part of the bill that is not covered by your health insurance.