Health and Community Services
May 4, 2017
Newfoundland and Labrador Expands Program to Include HPV Vaccine for Boys
The Provincial Government is expanding its publicly-funded vaccination program for school-aged children to include the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) vaccine for boys. Through an annual investment of $360,000, the HPV vaccine will be available to all Grade 6 children in the province beginning in September 2017.
With uptake rates of 95 per cent, Newfoundland and Labrador is recognized as a leader in vaccination for children. The publicly-funded vaccination program administers four vaccines containing six components, to school-aged children, as outlined in the backgrounder below.
Expanding the province’s publicly-funded vaccination program to include the HPV vaccine for boys is aligned with recommendations by Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization. HPV can lead to a variety of cancers and the HPV vaccine can help prevent HPV-related diseases or cancers if received at a young age. Immunization can prevent more than 70 to 84 per cent of certain cancers and 60 to 90 per cent of high risk pre-cancer cervical lesions.
Quotes
“Newfoundland and Labrador’s public childhood vaccination program is a true success. Expanding the program to include the HPV vaccine for boys will help protect all children at an early age from specific cancers later in life.”
Honourable John Haggie
Minister of Health and Community Services
“This initiative enables Newfoundland and Labrador to keep in step with other provinces across Canada with respect to immunization and cancer prevention. This is an important step in ensuring good public health in our province.”
Dr. David Allison
Chief Medical Officer of Health
“The Canadian Cancer Society supports public policies that promote healthy living. About half of all cancers can be prevented by people living healthier lifestyles. We applaud the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for this announcement today. It is an important step to reduce cancer rates in this province”.
Matthew Piercey
Executive Director, Canadian Cancer Society
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Learn more
Immunization, Public Health - www.health.gov.nl.ca/health/publichealth/cdc/immunizations.html
Canadian Cancer Society – www.cancer.ca
Follow us on Twitter @GovNL
and @HCS_GovNL
Media contacts
Emily Timmins
Health and Community Services
709-729-6986, 693-1292
EmilyTimmins@gov.nl.ca
Al Pelley
Canadian Cancer Society, Newfoundland and Labrador Division
709-753-6522
apelley@nl.cancer.ca
Backgrounder
Vaccines Included in the Public Childhood Vaccination Program
| Age | Vaccines |
| Grade 4 | Meningococcal |
| Grade 6 | Human papillomavirus (HPV) Hepatitis B |
| Grade 9 | Tetanus/diphtheria/acellular Pertussis |
2017 05 04 12:30 p.m.