This fall, the vaccination program against the human papilloma virus (HPV) is expanding to include females in Grade 9 for a two-year period, announced the Honourable Ross Wiseman, Minister of Health and Community Services, today.

"Last year, the HPV vaccination program was launched to provide young women another measure of protection against cervical cancer," said Minister Wiseman. "This fall we are expanding the program and thereby increasing the number of females who have the opportunity to be vaccinated against HPV. This is a step to further reduce the toll of cervical cancer and is a good investment in the health of women in Newfoundland and Labrador."

The program began last September for Grade 6 females and is designed to protect females against HPV, which is known to cause cervical cancer. The immunization will continue to be administered to female students in Grade 6 throughout the province, but will be offered as well to females in Grade 9 during the next two school years. By the 2010-11 school year, female students entering the ninth grade will have had their vaccination during Grade 6.

The vaccine, Gardasil, protects against four types of HPV, which together cause 70 per cent of cervical cancers and 90 per cent of genital warts. The vaccine was approved by Health Canada in July 2006 for women between ages nine and 26.

"The HPV vaccine is one of the most significant cancer prevention breakthroughs," said Dr. Faith Stratton, Chief Medical Officer of Health. "We were quite successful in the uptake of the vaccine for Grade 6 students last year, with more than 85 per cent of students receiving the vaccine. We are pleased to expand the program and further ensure young women in this province have the best protection against this devastating disease."

The program, which began last September, will cost approximately $4.6 million over three years, and was funded through a federal trust.