Expansion of the HPV vaccination program for Grade 9 to Grade 12 female students

The Ministry of Health and Long-term Care has expanded the publicly funded Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination program. Female students who did not receive or finish the HPV vaccine series in Grade 8 may receive the HPV vaccine at no cost until they finish Grade 12.

Why get vaccinated?

• HPV is a very common virus transmitted through sexual activity. Most people who become infected may not even know they have Degrassi's Annie Clark on it. HPV • Three out of four sexually active women will get HPV infection at some point in their lives if they are not vaccinated. This four minute HPV video providesg information about • The HPV vaccine, Gardasil, provides protection against 2 types of the risks of HPV and how the HPV that causes approximately 70 per cent of all cervical cancers, HPV vaccine offers protection and 2 that causes approximately 90 per cent of all genital warts. This video offers compelling • The HPV vaccine has been tested and proven to be safe and reasons why you need to get effective. For best protection, you need all three doses of the HPV vaccine. vaccinated against HPV

Where can I get vaccinated?

You may obtain the HPV vaccine from your doctor or attend one of our evening Community Immunization Clinics. Please note that if you choose to obtain the HPV vaccine from a doctor or at our community immunization clinics, it is best if you continue with this location to ensure the right timing between doses for this vaccine.

Resources • HPV Immunization Consent form and Fact Sheet • Gardasil vaccine fact sheet • Genital warts fact sheet

Additional Resources • www.hpvontario.ca (Ministry of Health and Long Term Care) • www.hpvinfo.ca (The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada) • Questions and Answers about HPV and HPV Vaccines (Public Health Agency of Canada) • National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI)– Canada Communicable Disease Report, Update on HPV Vaccines

For more information on health-related issues, please contact York Region Health Connection 1 at 1-800-361-5653, TTY: 1-866-252-9933 or visit www.york.ca/health