B.C. HPV vaccine program expanded to women 26 and under

The BC Centre for Disease Control has expanded the HPV vaccine program to allow women 26 years old and younger to get the vaccination for free.

The Cervarix vaccine, which is given in three shots, helps protect against the virus that can lead to cervical cancer.

“Human Papillomavirus is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases and our program is in place so that as many young women as possible can take advantage of this opportunity and prevent getting cervical cancer,” said Dr. Monika Naus, medical director of BCCDC.

The provincial catch-up program previously only covered women aged 19 to 21 to provide cost coverage for women who were too old to receive the vaccine in high schools.

The vaccine is available from pharmacists, doctors, sexual heath and youth clinics, student health services and public health units.

The program has also launched a digital component to encourage women to get immunized, including an interactive website and a text message reminder service.

Every year in B.C., 150 women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and 50 women die from the disease.

As well, 6,000 British Columbian women will develop high-risk changes to the cervix and 12,000 invasive procedures will be done to stop cancer from developing.

It is estimated that the HPV vaccine may prevent up to 70 per cent of cervical cancers and the same amount of precancerous high-risk cervical changes.