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There is now a CONTENT FREEZE for Mercury while we switch to a new platform. It began on Friday, March 10 at 6pm and will end on Wednesday, March 15 at noon. No new content can be created during this time, but all material in the system as of the beginning of the freeze will be migrated to the new platform, including users and groups. Functionally the new site is identical to the old one. webteam@gatech.edu
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Stamps Health Services (SHS) will offer the initial human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, Gardasil, free of charge to students, faculty and staff. Vaccinations will be provided to students, faculty and staff on a walk-in basis only (no appointments needed). HPV vaccination occurs in a three-dose series. This is the first of three vaccination clinics SHS is offering the Georgia Tech community. Follow-up vaccinations will be available at SHS later in the year (November 2012 and April 2013) for $15 per dose.
The purpose of the HPV vaccine (Gardasil) is to prevent genital warts and cervical cancer. The vaccine is effective against two types of HPV in males (types 6 and 11) and four types of HPV in females (types 6, 11, 16 and 18). Types 6 and 11 cause 90% of cases of genital warts and types 16 and 18 cause 75% of cases of cervical cancer.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that at least 50% of sexually active men and women will acquire genital HPV at some point in their lives. Most of these people do not have symptoms and do not know that they have it. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection.
