The HPV vaccine is a cancer-preventing vaccine that can benefit you, no matter your sex, gender, or sexual orientation, or sexual activity status. HPV is transmitted through intimate skin-to-skin contact and can cause a variety of cancers as well as genital warts.
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In British Columbia, males born in 2005 or later and females can get the vaccine for free as long as they get their first dose before they turn 19 and their last dose before they turn 26. The HPV vaccine is part of the recommended vaccination schedule for all youth in British Columbia. The HPV vaccine helps to prevent cancer. |
What is Human papillomavirus (HPV)?
HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Three out of four sexually active people will get a HPV infection at some point in their lives. HPV is sometimes called the ‘common cold’ of sexual activity. HPV infects both males and females. Anyone who has any kind of sexual activity with another person involving oral (mouth/throat), genital, or anal contact can get HPV.
How is HPV spread?
HPV is spread orally and through skin-to-skin contact during sexual activity. The virus enters the body through tiny breaks in the skin. Sexual intercourse is not necessary to get infected. Most people infected with HPV do not show any signs or symptoms and can pass the virus onto others without even knowing it. You can be exposed to HPV from only one sexual partner, the first time sexual activity occurs. The more sexual partners you have, the higher the risk of being infected with HPV.
What are the symptoms of HPV?
Genital warts can be a symptom of HPV. Genital warts are soft bumps on and around the genital area that are usually painless, itchy and sometimes bleed. However, since most HPV infections do not cause genital warts, there are often no symptoms and people do not know they are infected.
What are the risks of HPV?
There are more than 100 types of HPV. Some types cause cancers of the cervix, vulva, and vagina in females and cancers of the penis in males. HPV can also cause cancers of the anus and mouth/throat and genital warts in both men and women.
Every year in B.C. approximately:
- 6,000 women will develop high risk pre-cancerous changes to the cervix.
- 175 women will get cervical cancer and 50 will die from the disease.
- 110 people will develop anal cancer and 20 will die from the disease.
- 5,500 people will develop genital warts.
How do you prevent HPV?
The best way to not get HPV is to get immunized. The HPV vaccine is safe and effective at preventing cancers caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV).
It is much safer to get the vaccine than to get HPV disease. When you get immunized you help to protect others as well.
HPV (Gardasil®9) is the vaccine given to grade six students, and it is offered to eligible grade nine students if they missed the immunization in grade six.
HPV9 protects against seven types of HPV that cause 85-90 per cent of cervical cancers and anal cancers in females and about 84 per cent of anal cancers in males. The vaccine is also about 90-100 per cent effective in protecting against genital warts that are caused by two other types of HPV.
HPV9 also protects against two types of HPV that cause about 90 per cent of cases of genital warts.
We Can Be the First - ImmunizeBC and HPV
Who should get the HPV vaccine?
NEW: Males born in 2005 are now eligible for free HPV vaccine (previously only males born in 2006 or later were eligible).
HPV9 vaccine is recommended and provided free to:
- Girls and boys in Grade 6
Boys born in 2005 (previously 2006) or later and girls who did not get the vaccine in grade 6 remain eligible for the free HPV vaccine if they start their vaccine series before their 19th birthday and complete if before their 26th birthday - Males and females 9 to 26 years of age (inclusive) who are infected with HIV
- Males 9-26 years of age (inclusive) who are at increased risk for HPV infection
- Males 9-18 years of age in the care of the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD)
- Males in youth custody services centres
The HPV9 vaccine is recommended, but not provided free for the following people:
- Women 19-45 years of age
- Males 9-26 years of age who do not meet the criteria above
- Males 27 years of age and older who are men who have sex with men
Grade 6 students are vaccinated by public health nurses in the school setting. Anyone else eligible for the HPV vaccine can be immunized by making an appointment with their doctor, pharmacist or with Public Health.
Those not eligible for a free HPV vaccine can buy it at most pharmacies, travel clinics and some sexual health clinics.
Booking an HPV immunization appointment
Book an appointment at your local pharmacy or local public health unit.
To book with public health, residents of Fraser East (Mission, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Agassiz and Hope), can call 604-702-4906.
Residents of Fraser East (Mission, Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Agassiz and Hope), call 604-702-4906.
Residents in any other area of Fraser Health, can call 604-476-7087.
Public Health Unit hours of operation: Monday to Friday (8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.)
Note: When making an appointment with Public Health, you will be offered a text message reminder through the ImmunizeBC text message reminder system.
Resources
For more information about HPV and HPV vaccines, go to:
- HPV Vaccine Before 19 | Immunize BC
Most people in B.C. can get the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for free before their 19th birthday. - Immunize Canada: Disease and vaccines
Learn more about diseases that can be prevented by routine immunizations. - ImmunizeBC: HPV
Learn more about HPV. - ImmunizeBC: HPV vaccine safety
- Canadian Cancer Society: All about HPV vaccines
Watch a video to learn more about the HPV vaccine. - HealthLink BC: HPV infection and genital warts
Information about HPV. Available in English, Chinese, Farsi, French, Korean, Punjabi, Spanish and Vietnamese. - HealthLink BC: HPV vaccine
Information about HPV vaccine. - B.C. Centre for Disease Control: HPV
Information about HPV and HPV vaccines. - Canadian Cancer Society: HPV
Information about HPV, HPV vaccine and #HPVvaccine education campaign. - Caring for Kids: What teens need to know about HPV
Information for parents from Canada’s paediatricians. - I Boost Immunity
Earn a vaccine for someone in need by answering a quiz. - Kids Boost Immunity
Curated lessons with interactive quizzes that mirror your province's science, health and social studies curriculum – all for free. For every quiz that students complete, they will earn a vaccine for someone in need.