Ottawa Adds HPV Vaccine At School Immunization Clinics

HPV Vaccine

Ottawa Public Health, in partnership with our four local school boards, independent schools, and the Ministry of Health, is adding the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to the 2007/2008 School Immunization Program.

The HPV vaccine will be provided for Grade 8 female students. OPH nurses currently provide Hepatitis B and Meningococcal C for over 9,500 Grade 7 students at approximately 130 Ottawa schools as part of the School Immunization Program. Starting in September, all parents of Grade 8 girls will be provided with consent forms containing information about HPV, its transmission and the HPV vaccine. Only Grade 8 female students with signed consent forms will receive the vaccine. Students are encouraged to return signed consent forms to their homeroom teacher. Although this program is voluntary, immunization against Human Papillomavirus is highly recommended.

There is no known cure for HPV infections. The HPV vaccine Gardasil� has been sanctioned by the Ministry of Health and is considered very safe. The vaccine is recommended for young girls because it is most effective if given before sexual activity ever begins and provides long-term protection against HPV strains responsible for approximately 70 per cent of cervical cancers. Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death in women worldwide.