Where can my child get vaccinated?
In most provinces, you need to visit a doctor. Some doctors will have it in their offices and will be able to vaccinate your child right away. Others will give you
- the name of a clinic where she can go to be vaccinated, or
- a prescription that allows you to buy the HPV vaccine
If you have been given a prescription, you will have to go to a pharmacy to get it filled. Then, you’ll have to arrange to have a health professional do the vaccination (by injection). Between injections you’ll have to make sure that the vaccine is stored correctly. The pharmacist will tell you how to do this.
The vaccination against HPV requires three injections. All three must be given by a health care professional. Here’s how it works:
- Your child receives his or her's first injection.
- Two months later, your child will receive a second one.
- Six months after that, your child will receive the final injection.
Your child must have all three injections to be sure he or she is protected from HPV.
The cost of HPV vaccination is about $450. Some private insurance companies will cover some or all of the cost if you have health benefits through your job. You should check to see what is covered.
Why isn’t this covered by the provincial health plan?
The Federal Government pledged $300-million for HPV vaccinations in its 2007 budget. It invited the provinces to use the fund to begin their own public programs. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) is urging all provinces and territories to offer HPV vaccination programs, right now, for girls and women ages 9 to 26.
To find out who qualifies for publicly funded HPV vaccination in your province read our quick-guide to HPV Immunization Strategies by Province.
