Health officials concerned as HPV vaccination rates drop
While a lot of attention is focused on the COVID-19 vaccine right now, vaccination rates for other viruses have dropped, including the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine.
According to Public Health Sudbury and Districts (PHSD), it has seen a dramatic drop in the numbers.
"Definitely during the pandemic, a lot of our capacity was focused on dealing with the pandemic, and so our rates have decreased in the last year. So what we're doing right now is trying to get all the children and the students up to date on their vaccinations," said Emilie Gatien, a public health nurse.
She said they are putting an effort right now into encouraging everyone who might be eligible for a vaccine, including HPV, to give them a call or to speak to their healthcare provider.
According to their figures, in 2019 they were able to administer 3,325 doses of the HPV vaccine. That number dropped to 1,237 by 2020.
"It's a very common sexually transmitted infection so it's very important to get yourself protected," Gatien explained. "And those who are eligible, in general, it's women between the ages of nine and 45 years old and men between the ages of nine and 26 years old."
The health agency said there are many different types of HPV viruses and the type that can cause genital warts is not the same as the one that can cause different types of cancers. Those cancers have been known to show up years or even decades after someone's dealt with an HPV infection.
The vaccine comes in a two-dose or three-dose series and once someone's had it, it offers lifetime protection.
It's one reason why Dr. Vivien Brown, a Toronto family doctor and chair of HPV Week for the Federation of Medical Women of Canada, is hoping Canadians will take this seriously.
"I'm very concerned about the numbers because what we know is that if a vaccine becomes opportunistic, which means parents have to ask for it, they first have to know that there is a vaccine and that their children are due for it," Brown said. "And lots of people don't necessarily have a family doctor and lots of kids are falling through the cracks."
According to the federation, it's estimated that three out of four sexually active Canadians will develop HPV at some point over their lifetime.
There is a form of the virus that can lead to several different types of cancer including anal, vaginal, vulvar, penile, mouth, and throat. Since many Canadians often can't tell if they're carrying the virus, Brown said it's important to protect yourself.
"We need to catch up. We need to have parents understand they should go to a family doctor, go to a public health unit, maybe it's going to start in the schools, but Ontario has 34 public health units and they all do something differently," Brown added.
"HPV is a virus and it's common in about 75 per cent of adults. Most of us can clear the virus-like we clear a common cold but a certain percentage will have persistent HPV, and it's persistent HPV that can lead to six different types of cancers."
The federation has launched a website called Canada vs. HPV for anyone who wants more information about the virus and its vaccine.
"Canada has now followed the World Health Organization call to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health issue. World Health Organization said this in 2018 and again even with COVID-19 in 2020, that by doing screening, by doing Pap tests, by doing HPV vaccination, in the next 10-15 years we shouldn't be seeing cervical cancer anymore," Brown said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.