Gardasil is a vaccine against the HPV virus. It has been available in the school vaccination program since 2007. Gardasil 9 is now offered to boys and girls in grade 7. A permission slip is sent home for your parents or guardian to sign. If you are less than 15 years old, you need 2 doses of the vaccine. If you are older than age 15, you need 3 doses. If you did not receive the vaccine in grade school and you are still in high school, you may be able to get the vaccine through the health unit, free of charge. 

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If you prefer to get the vaccine from your family doctor, some private drug plans cover Gardasil.

Click HERE for more information about the Health Unit and its catch-up program. 

 

Gardasil-9 covers HPV strains 6,11,16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58. When you receive the vaccine, your immune system produces antibodies against these viruses. If you come in contact with the virus, the antibodies help protect you against the infection. This vaccine protects against 90% of genital warts and 90% of all cervical cancers. 

 

Gardasil is safe. It does not contain mercury or thiomersal. It is not a live virus or a dead virus vaccine. It contains virus-like particles that cannot cause the disease. 

 

The HPV vaccine is an important part of preventative health. Don't wait. The younger you are when you get the vaccine, the better it works. When we are young our immune system works better. 

 

For more information, please visit: https://www.gardasil9.ca/ and https://www.cdc.gov/vaccinesafety/vaccines/hpv-vaccine.html