Expansion of the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Immunization Program

Waterloo - The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOLTC) has expanded Ontario’s Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Immunization Program to include a catch up program for eligible females.

Effective September 2012, female students who have not completed their HPV immunization series or did not receive the HPV vaccine in Grade 8, may receive publicly funded HPV vaccine until the end of Grade 12. In addition, a one-time catch-up program will be offered from September 2012 to June 2013 inclusive for females who were born in 1993/1994 (in Grade 8 in 2007/2008), who did not receive their vaccine in school or who have not completed their series.

• The Manufacturer recommends completing the series one year from the first dose
• The second dose is given 2 months after the first dose and the third dose is given 4 months from second dose

Human Papillomavirus is estimated to be one of the most common sexually transmitted infections and has been linked to cervical, oral, penile and anal cancers and genital warts. In Canada, cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in Canadian women between the ages of 20 to 44.

Immunization is the best way to protect against HPV. Immunization protects young women from HPV strains responsible for approximately 70 per cent of cervical cancers. Detailed safety data acquired through clinical trials and the Public Health Agency of Canada concluded that the vaccine used, called Gardasil®, is safe and well tolerated.

Region of Waterloo Public Health will continue to offer the voluntary, publicly funded school-based HPV immunization for program for all Grade 8 girls.

For more information or to access this publicly funded vaccine, please call 519-883-2007, option 6.

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Media contact: Linda Black, Manager, Vaccine Preventable Disease, 519-883-2007 ext. 5251