Quebec has caught up in youth HPV vaccination, rates above 75 per cent
While COVID-19 occupied the forefront of Quebec's vaccination efforts, other campaigns were put on hold. But in the case of HPV, Quebec has already caught back up, with innoculation rates above 75 per cent for a large portion of school-aged youth.
As International Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Awareness Day approaches on March 4, the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MSSS) has confirmed to The Canadian Press that the catch-up operation is over.
In 2020, Quebec began administering one dose of the HPV vaccine to Grade 4 elementary students and a second dose to Secondary 3 students.
However, with the arrival of the pandemic in March 2020, vaccination was immediately paused.
Then, a catch-up operation was launched to vaccinate young people who missed their appointment with the HPV immunization, of which there are more than 200 different types.
According to data provided by the MSSS, vaccination coverage for the 2021-2022 school year is estimated at 80 per cent for Grade 4 elementary and Secondary 3 students.
However, it is the 2019-2020 and 2020-2021 cohorts that have been the subject of a catch-up operation. This appears to have been very successful, with coverage rates as high as 75.5 per cent (2020-2021) and 76 per cent (2019-2020) for Secondary 3 students.
The data is even better for Grade 4 students with vaccination rates of 85.9 per cent (2019-2020) and 84.2 per cent (2020-2021).
The current vaccination schedule calls for elementary school youth to receive one dose of Gardasil 9 vaccine first. Then, 60 months later, they receive a dose of Cervarix vaccine.
These vaccines are given to both girls and boys. According to information available on the National Institute of Public Health portal, most HPV types "have no visible signs," while others can cause genital warts, among other things.
"The most deadly types of HPV can cause a variety of cancers, including cervical, anal, oropharyngeal, penile, vulvar and vaginal cancers," it warns.
It is also possible to have HPV without showing any visible signs, but eventually develop a cancer related to the virus.
These viruses are transmitted during sexual relations. Vaccination is the best way to protect against HPV, in addition to using a condom.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Feb. 3, 2023.
The Canadian Press health content is funded through a partnership with the Canadian Medical Association. The Canadian Press is solely responsible for editorial decisions.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
235 flights cancelled as WestJet waits to hear from labour minister on next steps in mechanics strike
WestJet said 235 flights have been cancelled Saturday as it waits to see what the next steps are in its ongoing labour dispute with its mechanics.
Tenants in 16-floor apartment building in Ottawa's west-end served eviction notices
More than 100 people in Ottawa's west-end are in the process of receiving eviction notices to vacate their 50-year-old apartment building for renovations.
Health Canada recalls brand of sunscreen product due to potential fungal contamination
Double check your sunscreen products before lathering up this long weekend, as Health Canada has recalled several lots across the country.
NDP's Ashton pays back some money from Christmas trip initially billed to taxpayers
A New Democrat member of Parliament has paid back a portion of the thousands of dollars she spent on a Christmastime trip for herself and her family that was paid for with public money.
‘I’m terrified to go downtown again Halifax’: woman recovering after altercation with group of men who allegedly made homophobic slurs
A birthday celebration turned into a nightmare for a same-sex couple in downtown Halifax on Saturday after they got into a violent altercation with a group of men.
opinion Practical tips for seniors who want to supplement their retirement income
Are you retired and looking for some ideas to help make some extra money? Personal finance contributor Christopher Liew has some tips to help you earn some income in your golden years.
As fall elections loom, are fears for the state of democracy in Canada justified?
Is Canada's democracy truly under threat? Political scientists say while Canadian politics and institutions are facing a myriad of concerns, the situation isn't dire overall.
Ontario woman loses $1,000 deposit in cottage rental scam
For many, the Canada Day long weekend is the official kick off of summer and many families will be spending time at a cottage.
The small French town where Newfoundlanders were heroes
It was a battle ripped from the pages of a storybook: Ten soldiers held off hundreds of German troops to save a small French village in the First World War.