March 6, 2008 - As the school year is now more than half over, the Health Unit reminds parents that grade eight girls still have time to receive the HPV (human papilloma virus) vaccine at no charge, as long as doses are administered before girls enter grade nine.
“Three doses are required for full protection. Each dose that is not administered in grade eight will cost families $140,” said Darlene Binette, Manager of Infectious Diseases. “We urge parents who want to have their grade eight daughter immunized to drop by the Health Unit’s Wednesday Immunization Clinic as soon as possible so that we can start and complete the vaccine series before September.”
HPV is a virus common to sexually active individuals that can cause cervical cancer and genital warts. The HPV vaccine is very effective at protecting against two strains of HPV that cause about 70% of cervical cancers, as well as the two strains which most commonly cause genital warts. The vaccine is most effective if the three doses required for full protection are administered before females begin sexual activity.
Since the Ontario government launched the free HPV vaccine program to grade eight girls in September 2007, fifty three per cent (53%) of eligible females in the province have consented to the vaccine. In the District of Thunder Bay, one of every two girls has provided consent, but the uptake is expected to increase before the end of the school year.
“Parents and students are now much more aware of the vaccine and its effectiveness than when the program started last fall. We’re receiving more questions about it and its availability,” Binette added. “We expect that there’ll be some increase in demand for the vaccine now that school year is drawing to a close and parents realize the value of the free vaccine.”
To start the vaccine series or to get remaining doses that are not yet scheduled during a school clinic, parents are urged to visit the Health Unit’s Wednesday Immunization Clinic held at 999 Balmoral Street from 1:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (no appointment is necessary), or to call the Vaccine Preventable Diseases program at 625-5971.