On October 16, the Ministry of Health and Social Services announced that the bivalent Cervarix vaccine against human papillomavirus (HPV, types 16 and 18) could be offered free of charge, for a temporary period, to healthy adults. from 21 to 45 years old who have never received the vaccine.
Recommended for this age group, HPV vaccination is normally offered free of charge to immunocompromised people aged 21 to 45 or living with HIV. The ministry wishes to temporarily expand access for all adults aged 21 to 45 in order to offer effective protection against these viruses to more people in Quebec, while avoiding losing these doses which will eventually expire.
The recommended vaccination schedule for healthy adults ages 21 to 45 includes two doses of vaccine spaced at least 6 months apart. The INSPQ Quebec Immunization Committee, however, recalls that a single dose received from the age of 21 provides very good protection against future infections.
This temporary free service will continue until the 150,000 available doses of the Cervarix vaccine are exhausted.
Do not hesitate to inform your customers or offer the Cervarix vaccine free of charge to these people according to the schedule of the Quebec Immunization Protocol.
HPV – Reminder
- HPV infections are the most common sexually transmitted infections. People aged 20 to 24 are particularly affected.
- It is estimated that 75% of the sexually active and unvaccinated Canadian population will be infected with HPV at least once in their lifetime and most people with an effective immune system will be able to clear the virus within a few months or years. . A small percentage of infected people are likely to develop cancer.
- HPV causes almost 100% of cervical cancers, between 60 and 90% of other genital cancers (vagina, vulva, penis, anus) and 70% of oropharynx cancers.
- Data on the effects of implementing an HPV vaccination program show a reduction in infections, condyloma, precancerous lesions and cancerous lesions.
Sources: MSSS, 2023; Health Canada, 2024
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