On Oct. 21, 2015, the Government of Manitoba announced that, as of Sept. 2016, boys as well as girls will be offered the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination across the province. The vaccination has been offered in Manitoba schools to girls in grade six since 2008, and is only now being administered to boys.
The opportunity to receive the vaccine for free will also be presented again in grade nine and for the duration of high school, with the condition of written consent from parents or guardians.
“Offering the HPV vaccine to males is a step in the right direction to reduce transmission and protect Manitobans from HPV-related cancers, regardless of gender,” explained Sharon Blady, Manitoba’s health minister, in an interview with CTV News.
The same CTV News article highlighted a report published by Toronto researchers that suggested $12 million in treating HPV cases linked to cancer could have been saved, if all 12-year-old boys had been vaccinated in 2012. The virus itself can cause cervical cancer in women, but also throat, mouth, head, and neck cancer in both genders.
However, it is important to recognize that not every patient diagnosed with HPV develops cancer. Regardless, the HPV vaccine ensures protection from the strains of HPV that are linked to cancer in both male and female subjects.
“Vaccinating boys with the HPV vaccine will help prevent transmission of the virus and help reduce the incidence and mortality of all HPV-related cancers,” explained Sri Navaratnam, the president and CEO of CancerCare Manitoba, in an interview with CTV News.
Manitoba is not the first province in Canada to extend the vaccination to both genders. Alberta and Prince Edward Island both already administer the vaccine to boys. Nova Scotia and Saskatchewan are also in the process of integrating this preventive health care strategy.