Friday, September 14, 2007
Perth District Health Unit
Medical Officer of Health Addresses Questions Surrounding HPV Vaccine
Perth County - The new Human
Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine has created a lot of
discussion and debate in our community. Dr.
Miriam Klassen, Acting Medical Officer of Health,
would like to help provide some helpful
information to Perth County families regarding the
HPV vaccine. “Parents need to decide for
themselves whether receiving the HPV vaccine is
the right choice for their daughter,” said Dr.
Klassen. “I want to help provide families with
sound and factual information that they can base
their decision on.”
1. The HPV vaccine is safe and effective.
- The vaccine has been approved by Health
Canada, the authority responsible for establishing
the safety, effectiveness and quality of all drugs
and vaccines.
- Before introducing a new vaccine to Ontario’s
publicly funded immunization program, the
province considers the needs of Ontarians, the
advice of experts, and the safety and effectiveness
of the vaccine.
- The vaccine is close to 100% effective in
protecting against four types of HPV, two of which
are responsible for about 70% of cervical cancers.
- The vaccine has been endorsed by many
organizations, including the Canadian Cancer
Society, Cancer Care Ontario, the Society of
Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada and
the National Advisory Committee on
Immunization, which recommended the vaccine
for girls and young women, nine to 26 years of
age.
2. Cervical cancer is a serious issue. This
vaccine will help prevent Ontario women from
developing cervical cancer in the future.
- Combined with regular Pap screenings for all
women, this vaccination program will help to
prevent most cervical cancers in Ontario.
- As many as 140 women die of cervical cancer
each year in Ontario, and many more women
suffer complications from the disease.
3. The time is right to offer this vaccine to all
grade 8 girls in Ontario.
- This vaccine is good news for the fight against
cancer.
- Now that we have a safe, effective vaccine at
our disposal, we want to implement a program as
soon as possible to begin protecting females from
HPV and future cases of cervical cancer.
- Because the vaccine series must be
administered in three doses, it is essential that the
program begin early in the school year so all three
doses can be completed before the school year
ends.
- This vaccine is being offered free of charge to
all grade 8 girls as a preventative, public health
measure.
- Grade 8 girls were chosen because the HPV
vaccine is most effective if offered to females
before they become sexually active. At the same
time, females in Grade 8 are aware of sexually
transmitted infections and will be better able to
understand the benefits of the vaccine.
4. Families need to make the decision to
receive or not receive the vaccine based on
sound, factual evidence.
- The HPV vaccine has created a lot of
discussion, both for and against the vaccine.
- The vaccine is completely voluntary;
therefore, families need to make their own
decision about whether or not the vaccine is right
for them at this time.
- Parents are urged to do their own research
based on sound, credible information.
- Be critical of what you are hearing and
reading, both from the positive and negative
perspectives.
- The Health Unit can help answer any
questions that parents may have.
- You may also check the Ontario Ministry of
Health and Long-Term Care’s HPV Web site at
www.hpvontario.ca. They provide links to
other useful Web sites as well.
5. The vaccine does not protect against all
sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
- The HPV vaccine helps to protect against the
4 most common types of HPV infection.
- Receiving the vaccine does not mean that a
person is protected against other common STIs or
pregnancy.
- It does, however, help protect against the most
common causes of cervical cancer and is a major
advance in the fight against cancer.
For more information, call Health Line at 519-271-
7600 ext 267. Listowel area residents call 1-877-
271-7348 ext 267. Or check our Web site at
www.pdhu.on.ca.
Contact: Annette Hoyles, Communications
Manager
519-271-7600 ext 279 or email:
ahoyles@pdhu.on.ca.
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