A new measure to fight cancer
B.C. expands free HPV vaccination program.
British Columbia authorities have come up with another way to protect the province's residents from cancer. The disease can be caused by the human papillomavirus, so the region is expanding free vaccinations. It's now available to more men, up to those born in 2005.
HPV is transmitted by close skin-to-skin contact and can cause various cancers as well as genital warts. Doctors advise men and women to get the vaccine before the age of 19, as it is particularly effective at a young age. However, even after that, the vaccine still makes sense.
Starting today, the vaccination is available free of charge for men up to age 26 in British Columbia. Men who were born between January and June 2005 have time until June 30, 2024 to get their first dose.
Information campaign
About 23,000 men born in 2005 and registered with B.C.'s special health care system received notices Jan. 16. They advise them to get a free HPV vaccination as soon as possible — if they have not already been immunized.
To make an appointment for immunizations, you can go to a pharmacy or health clinic. Residents of indigenous communities can make an appointment at their community health center or nursing facility.
HPV is linked to a variety of cancers, including cancers of the cervix, anus, mouth and throat, penis, vagina and vulva. It is thought that up to 75% of unvaccinated men and women become infected with HPV at some point in their lives.
More than 200 million doses of HPV vaccine have already been safely administered worldwide, demonstrating its safety and effectiveness in fighting the virus. More than 15 years of safety testing confirms that vaccination helps protect people from HPV-related diseases.
The province of British Columbia is actively fighting HPV infection. This year, the local Ministry of Health has already introduced a program to order home testing kits.
