available? what do you mean, available?

[snugglekitty]

So, here is the question that 7j and I have been researching today.

Is it currently possible, or will it soon be possible, to get the HPV vaccine in Boston?

MGH - says they don't have it in the following departments: STD clinic, Gynecology, Infectious Diseases.
Cambridge Health Alliance - says they don't have it in the following departments: Infectious Diseases, Women's Health (both locations), primary care (the last is apparently having a meeting to decide whether they'll offer it but have no idea when)
Brigham and Women's - Gyn department says they are waiting to receive the vaccine, they are planning to offer it. You can reach them at (617) 732-5500.
Beth Israel DMC - Gyn department says they're not offering it, suggests calling a pediatrician.
Fenway - has not yet returned call.
New England Medical Center - Gyn dept couldn't give me a definitive answer but says "we haven't heard anything about it, and we would've."
Planned Parenthood of MA - Says that it's not out yet, they think they will have it when it's available but don't know for sure.
Sidney Borum Jr Health Center - They hope to eventually have it but couldn't give me a timeframe.

On a larger scale:
Massachusetts CDC - no knowledge
Massachusetts DPH - have to call back to their vaccine unit on Monday.

Anyone have more promising leads? Or others that they've ruled out, at least? Or places I haven't thought to try that are still Boston Metro?

Comments

[srl.livejournal.com]

Planned Parenthood.
Sydney Borum Health Center in Boston, which is youth-specific and treats lots of queer kids.

[lady-anemone.livejournal.com]

Good points! I'm calling them right now to find out.

[catya.livejournal.com]

Out in the burbs, Acton Medical said to check back in 1-2 months on the day it was released, so I should call them next week or so. It also sounded favorable for getting it off-label (past the age range) there.

[lady-anemone.livejournal.com]

Cool. I will call them next week too then. :)

[nchanter.livejournal.com]

my gyno also said to call back in 1-2 months. She works out of Weston OB/GYN. She also thinks that the age bracket thing (9-26) is bullshit, and will be ignorning that. Be preparied that some doctors might not.

[srl.livejournal.com]

Ask b0st0n, and post a followup there when you find out the answers. That'll help you mobilize more people to call their medical providers, which will show providers that there's a demand for it.

[lady-anemone.livejournal.com]

That's an awesome idea. Thanks. I will tell them what I found so far.

[sailingcub.livejournal.com]

I just had a check-up at the Urban Medical Group (http://urbanmedicalgroup.org) and was told that docs don't yet have it and are still figuring out how and when to use it but that they expect to have it figured out soon. That because it was only *just* approved it probably won't be available for a couple more months at least.

[lady-anemone.livejournal.com]

Thanks for weighing in. The information that made me start looking now was from the Merck website, which said the vaccine would be available in the month of June. Since that month is now over I figured it wasn't too early to start calling around.

[srl.livejournal.com]

What kinds of "figuring out" do they need to do about how and when? I know that they're still doing safety/effectiveness trials on males, but I haven't read anything about the vaccine that suggested major counterindications.

[sailingcub.livejournal.com]

Doctors as individuals reading the information about it and making decisions on who to make it available to, who to encourage, who to discourage, how to discuss it, etc. She didn't say specifically but I know this is how my dad goes about evaluating new meds before offering them to patients. This came up because I was interested in being vaccinated if possible. She did say that she was getting requests for it from just about everyone and was expecting to have it probably by the end of the summer.

[sailingcub.livejournal.com]

Also trying to figure out if it should be offered to all anally receptive patients (since that wasn't included in the study group).

[heresiarch.livejournal.com]

yeah, i'd assume it's just been approved too recently for it to be widely available yet. also, it looks like it will be included in the Vaccines for Children Program, so nearly half of those who receive it may get it through that program.

are you checking for political or personal reasons? i imagine that access will be less of an issue in places like Boston and the northeast than in other parts of the country, if it becomes an issue at all.

[supercheesegirl.livejournal.com]

My doctor (at Harvard Vanguard Medical in Cambridge) said it won't be widely available for another few months.