EDMONTON – Alberta will become the second province in the country to roll out an HPV vaccination program for boys, following the lead of Prince Edward Island.
Beginning next fall, Alberta’s HPV program will expand to include boys in Grade 5. There will also be a four-year catch-up program for boys in Grade 9.
The vaccine offers protection from the human papillomavirus (HPV),which can lead to several types of cancer including cervical and throat cancer, as well as cancers of the neck and head. It is the most common sexually transmitted disease worldwide.
“About 70 per cent of adults will have HPV at some point in their lives,” said Dr. James Talbot, Alberta’s Chief Medical Officer of Health on Thursday.
“The HPV vaccine is most effective when given to boys and girls before they begin sexual activity, which increases the risk of being exposed to HPV.”
University of Alberta oncologist Dr. Hadi Seikaly says HPV can cause several cancers in males.
“Recent data from Alberta shows that almost 100 per cent of oropharyngeal head and neck cancers in men under 40 are HPV-related.”
READ MORE: Study: Vaccine against sexually transmitted HPV cut infections in teen girls by half
The province expects about 32,000 Grade 5 students and 15,000 Grade 9 boys will receive the vaccination next fall.
Since the vaccination program began for female students in 2008, just over 60 per cent of girls have received the shots.
The program is offered free of charge and is voluntary. A parent or guardian must their consent.
After the vaccination program was introduced, Alberta bishops said it would not be allowed in Catholic schools. The vaccine was seen to have moral implications for church teachings on sexual activity.
“We know the risk factors for contracting HPV are sexual in nature and go against the Catholic church, but at the end of the day our girls can make those right decisions,” Sandra Dufresne, the chair of Lethbridge’s Holy Spirit school board, said at the time.
However, last fall, the Calgary Catholic school district reviewed its policy, and the board decided to allow the vaccine.
READ MORE: Holy Spirit will offer the HPV vaccine in schools
The Holy Spirit school board in Lethbridge made a similar decision in October to offer the HPV vaccine.
Some Catholic school boards in the province still don’t allow health officials to administer the shots at schools.
“As we said, this is a voluntary program,” said Dr. Talbot on Thursday. “We try to make sure that people are aware of what the facts are, and the facts are that the vaccine is safe and it’s effective. Studies have been done to examine the question of whether or not offering the vaccine leads to more teen pregnancies, leads to more unprotected sex, and the anwer to that question is no, it does not. That’s what the science says.”
“We will continue to work with those boards to try to change their minds and make sure that parents’ wishes are accommodated, but in the end, it is the decision of the school boards and families,” he added.
The shots are also available through health clinics.
“Alberta Health Services has made arrangements for other venues if that’s more convenient, depending on where the school is located,” said Dr. Talbot.
It will cost $8 million to buy the vaccine for boys. The total HPV vaccination program will cost Alberta about $16 million.
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