The B.C. government says a look at funding for the HPV9 vaccine will be part of its annual review of the province’s public funding structure following a call from the New Westminster school board to make it free to boys and young men.
Since September 2017, the vaccine, which can be effective in preventing not only cervical cancers among women but also rectal, mouth, throat and anal cancers among men, has been free to boys born in 2006 and later.
But for years, the vaccine has been freely available to girls and young women who begin the set of vaccines at 18 years old and finish the vaccine series by age 26.
The New West school board is calling for the vaccines to be equally available to men, saving those who have not received the vaccine for free hundreds of dollars if they want to get the vaccines.
The issue came up in school board in a recent committee meeting, pushed by Trustee Danielle Connelly, and was unanimously passed in the September regular board meeting.
The B.C. Ministry of Health noted in a statement the province’s communicable disease policy advisory committee makes recommendations annually on expanding, adding and removing immunization programs in the publicly funded structure.
That comes after looking at prevalence and spread of diseases, as well as the safety, efficacy, cost effectiveness and feasibility of the vaccines.
“The committee will consider any possible further expansion to the HPV immunization program, such as a catch-up program, alongside its review of other new or improved vaccines in the coming year, prior to making its recommendations to government,” the ministry said. “To date, the ministry has not received any recommendations for program expansion.
“Anyone who is not eligible for a free HPV vaccine can purchase it at most pharmacies and travel clinics.”
Connelly did not respond to a request for comment as of publication.
