I have no idea what the cost was because my insurance covered it. I stopped after 2 doses because of that recent study showing that just one may be enough.
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Oh and thereâs an additional potential benefit for those who are still dating or getting back into dating. The vaccine protects against 9 of the strains that can cause cancer, so even if youâve been exposed to 1 or more of the strains youâll be protected against new exposures to the others.
My Prompt:
How can people in the USA over the age of 45 get the HPV vaccine if they want it? What options would be available to them and what would be the possible range in the price?
Gemini Pro Response
In the United States, obtaining the HPV vaccine (Gardasil 9) after the age of 45 is possible, though it falls outside current FDA-approved indications and CDC routine recommendations. Because it is considered âoff-labelâ for this age group, the process, legalities, and costs differ significantly from younger populations.
1. Clinical and Legal Path to Access
Since the vaccine is not FDA-approved for those over 45, you cannot simply walk into most retail pharmacies and receive it as you would a flu shot.
- Prescription Required: You must obtain a physical or electronic prescription from a licensed healthcare provider (MD, DO, NP, or PA). A physician can legally prescribe a drug or vaccine âoff-labelâ if they believe it is medically appropriate for the patient based on their specific health profile and risk factors.
- Shared Clinical Decision-Making: You will likely need to discuss your sexual health history, potential for new partners, and overall longevity goals with your doctor. They will evaluate whether the potential benefit (protection against new strains) outweighs the cost, especially since most adults have already been exposed to some HPV types by this age.
- Administration Site: Once you have a prescription, you may need to receive the injection at your doctorâs office. Many pharmaciesâ internal protocols prevent them from administering vaccines to age groups outside the FDA-approved labeling, even with a prescription.
2. Estimated Costs and Financial Options
Because this use is off-label, it is highly unlikely to be covered by private insurance, Medicare, or Medicaid. These payers typically follow ACIP (CDC) guidelines, which currently stop at age 45.
| Item | Estimated Cost (Per Dose) | Total for 3-Dose Series |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer List Price | ~$300 â $370 | ~$900 â $1,110 |
| Retail Pharmacy Price | ~$370 â $450 | ~$1,110 â $1,350 |
| Discounted Price (e.g., GoodRx) | ~$170 â $250 | ~$510 â $750 |
| Administration Fee | ~$30 â $70 | ~$90 â $210 |
Total Estimated Out-of-Pocket Range: $600 to $1,500 for the full series.
Options for Reducing Costs:
- Prescription Discount Cards: Services like GoodRx or SingleCare can significantly lower the retail price at participating pharmacies.
- Manufacturer Assistance: Merck (the manufacturer of Gardasil 9) has a patient assistance program called MerckHelps. However, their formal eligibility usually aligns with the FDA age limit (up to 45). You may still apply, but approval is not guaranteed for off-label use.
- Planned Parenthood: Some Planned Parenthood clinics or community health centers offer sliding-scale fees based on income, though they still must adhere to medical protocols regarding age.
3. Strategic Considerations for Longevity
For a longevity-focused individual, the rationale for vaccination post-45 typically centers on preventing oropharyngeal (throat), anal, and cervical cancers that can develop from new HPV exposures later in life.
- Knowledge Gap: There is limited clinical trial data on the efficacy of the vaccine in populations over 45, as most studies focused on younger cohorts where the immune response is more robust.
- Alternative Data: Some clinicians argue that if an individual is entering a new relationship or has multiple partners, the risk of acquiring one of the high-risk strains (like 16 or 18) remains present regardless of age.
Next Step: Would you like me to find a template or list of talking points you can use to discuss an off-label HPV prescription with your healthcare provider?
Example of Pricing using GoodRX (best pricing seems to be around $170 per injection syringe):
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Anyone can go to planned parenthood and get one. I did, 3 vax over a year. Out of pocket was $700ish.
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I wonder if that works (is available) for men too. Iâll call and check.
Very interesting, thanks! I wasnât able to find much online about it. I hadnât found that Lancet paper, though itâs not directly related to our question. I asked ChatGPT Pro to analyse the paper and the recommendations about HPV vaccination. It gave a pretty complex answer, but the gist is that itâs definitely a promising signal. As you said, it does at leats suggest that there are immunity gains to be made, though the nuance might be around the fact that the patients in the trial had an excision and will need to then heal the tissue. The vaccine in this people may be reducing the infection rate of the new tissue, which wouldnât apply to you or I who didnât have excision.
Still, maybe Iâm going to try and find out if I can get an HPV vaccine now.
I would really hope it should. HPV causes anal cancer, penile cancer, oral cancer etc. It affects men just as much as women. While we canât get cervical cancer, we can get penile cancer, which sounds extremely unpleasant⌠And also, the women are catching it from the men and vice-versa, so thereâs no sense only vaccination one sex.
This paper is more relevant to the question, but needs replication. Women with established HPV were then given the vaccine:
âIn the vaccinated group, the rate of HPV disappearance was significantly higher over the follow-up period than in the control group. This applies especially to the complete disappearance of the HPV - in 72.4% vaccinated women compared to 45.7% unvaccinated.â
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