Columbia University Health Services

The Columbia Handbook on HIV and AIDS is a newly revised version of two original works, published by Simon and Schuster (Pocketbooks). The Essential AIDS Fact Book was initially published in 1987, sold several hundred thousand copies and was translated into four languages. Mathilde Krim, the founder of AmFAR, wrote a preface to the book stating "This book should be a ‘must read' for all college age youth and sexually active adults. " The second book, The Essential HIV Treatment Fact Book, was written to provide more complete information for those who were infected with HIV and their friends and family. The book was acclaimed by a number of leaders in the field of AIDS. Jeffrey Laurence, the director of the New York Hospital AIDS Virus Research Laboratory wrote: "This is an important book, up to date, extraordinarily comprehensive..."

Other comments include:

• [The authors] have done the impossible-they've written an "AIDS Bible."
• This has to be the gold standard for HIV self-help information.
• Amazingly complete medical guide...an exceptional reference book for health care providers.
  

Now, in 2009, the best way to provide this information is on the internet - it's more accessible and easier to update. The current version was updated in September 2009.

Pertussis (commonly known as whooping cough) is a bacterial, respiratory infection. While traditionally pertussis has been an infection mostly seen in childhood, it has recently been increasingly recognized in adults. It is a contagious disease, whose hallmark is an initial phase consistent with an upper respiratory infection followed by a characteristic cough. The cough of pertussis is bursts of numerous rapid coughs, followed by a long gasp.

In the absence of symptoms, only close household contacts of an infected person with pertussis, should receive antibiotic treatment. 

You can make an appointment at Primary Care Medical Services to be seen by a provider, or to obtain the Pertussis/Tetanus vaccine (Tdap), which the CDC now recommends a single booster dose for adults 19-64 years of age. As opposed to the traditional Tetanus booster, the Tdap vaccine also offers protection against pertussis.

Primary Care Medical Services now has the HPV vaccine Gardasil in stock and students are welcome to make appointments to receive the vaccine. The vaccine has been approved by the FDA to protect women against four common strains of HPV, including two strains commonly associated with cervical cancer.

Gardasil is approved for use in girls and women ages 9-26 years. Ideally it should be given prior to any sexual activity which may expose a woman to HPV. It is recommended for sexually active women, even if they have a history of abnormal Pap smears and treatment. They can benefit from the vaccine because they may not have been exposed to any or all of the preventable strains. The vaccine is not a treatment for a current HPV infection. Recommendations for cervical cancer screening (Pap smears) will not change at this time.

As with any vaccination at Primary Care, students must pay out of pocket for the HPV vaccine. The fee is $130 per dose (the complete vaccination series is three doses). Students may make an appointment at Primary Care to receive the vaccine.

For more information about the vaccine, please visit
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention: Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices

The Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, recently passed by congress, has eliminated subsidies for low-cost birth control to ineligible health care providers. Unfortunately this means that Health Services at Columbia, our partner pharmacies, and college health services in general, no longer qualify to receive discounted contraception under this federal regulation.

This law applies to prescription birth control and emergency contraception (Plan B) which is available over the counter. When picking up contraception students will now be resposible for paying their insurance plan's co-pay. For students on Columbia insurance, the co-pays are $5 for generic prescriptions and $30 for brand name. Generics are available for some brands of birth control, students may ask their pharmacist if their brand has a generic option. Students who are not on Columbia insurance should contact their insurance company to find out more about their co-pays, as co-pays vary widely from plan to plan.

This law also ended discounts for students for Plan B, an over the counter emergency contraception. Pharmacies will now charge students full price for Plan B (ranging from $30 -$50), because it is not a prescription medication and not covered by insurance. The New York City Department of Health Riverside Clinic, at 60 West 100th Street, dispenses Plan B for free. Planned Parenthood of New York City also provides birth control and emergency contraception.