The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccine

As parents, we all want to protect the health and well-being of our children. Most people will get an HPV infection at some point in their lifetime. HPV is a very common virus that can cause genital warts, pre-cancerous cells and cancers of the cervix, vulva, vagina, mouth, throat, anus, and penis. You can prevent cancer in your child from cancers caused by the HPV types covered in the HPV vaccine by choosing to vaccinate your child against HPV. It's that simple.

• The most common side effects reported from the HPV vaccine include soreness, pain, and swelling at the site of injection.
• To help prepare your child to manage the feelings and sensations they may experience on the day they receive the HPV vaccine, check out a series of resources produced by The Hospital for Sick Children:
  • The CARD System Student handout (pdf)
  • Preparing children for school vaccinations: A parent's guide (pdf)
• Not all sources of information on the internet are reliable. To read more about how to find reliable websites about the HPV vaccine, click here (pdf).
• Talk to your health care provider or local public health nurse if you have questions about the HPV vaccine.

To read information written by Manitoba Health, Seniors, and Active Living for parents about the HPV vaccine, safety, and the Manitoba HPV Immunization Program:

• Grade 6 School Immunization Program Factsheet for Parents & Guardians (Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living - Public Health) (pdf)
• Frequently Asked Questions: Manitoba’s School Immunization Program – For Parents (Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living - Public Health) (pdf)
• Human Papillomavirus (Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living - Public Health)
• Manitoba's Recommended Immunization Schedule (Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living - Public Health)

The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in Canada have a website directed to the general public on the topics of HPV, signs and symptoms, prevention, and frequently asked questions. 

• HPVinfo.ca (The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada)

To learn more about immunizations and how they protect against many diseases, see these Canadian sites:

• Immunize Canada - HPV (Immunize Canada)
• Canadian Pediatric Society Position Statement: HPV vaccine for children and adolescents (Canadian Pediatric Society)

This site summarizes the scientific evidence about all vaccines approved by the Public Health Agency of Canada:

• National Advisory Committee on Immunization Recommendations (Health Canada)

If you have questions about the HPV vaccine, you can contact Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living at vaccines@gov.mb.ca

Your recommendation counts! You may get questions about the HPV immunization and other immunizations that you are not sure how to answer. Below are some links that might be helpful.

Manitoba Immunization Program

• Human Papillomavirus
• Grade 6 School Immunization Program Factsheet for Parents & Guardians (pdf)
• Frequently Asked Questions: Manitoba's School Immunization Program - For Parents (pdf)
• Manitoba's Recommended Immunization Schedule
• HPV Immunization Eligibility Criteria
• Manitoba's School Immunization Program: Questions & Answers for Health Care Providers (pdf)
• Immunization Program Manual for Immunization Providers in Manitoba (pdf)

Prepare Students for Vaccination Day

To help prepare students to manage the feelings and sensations they may experience on the day they receive the HPV vaccine, check out a series of resources produced by The Hospital for Sick Children:

• The CARD System Student handout (pdf)
• Preparing children for school vaccinations: A parent's guide (pdf)

Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in Canada (SOGC)

SOGC has a website directed to the general public and providers on the topics of HPV, signs and symptoms, prevention, and frequently asked questions. Included for educators are lesson plans, other teaching tools, and resources for order.

• HPVinfo.ca
• Get the Facts - The Human Papillomavirus (HPV) (pdf)
• HPV Facts for Aboriginal Youth (pdf)
• Contemporary Clinical Questions on HPV-Related Diseases and Vaccination (English | French | References) (pdf)

Immunize Canada

To learn more about immunizations and how they protect against many diseases, see these Canadian sites:

• Immunize Canada - HPV (Immunize Canada)
• Canadian Pediatric Society Position Statement: HPV Vaccine for Children & Adolescents (Canadian Pediatric Society)

Canadian Cancer Society

The Canadian Cancer Society has developed a series of visuals (pdf) to help educate the public about HPV and the impact of the HPV vaccine.

If you cannot find the answer to your question, you can contact:

• Manitoba Health, Seniors & Active Living at vaccines@gov.mb.ca

• your local public health nurse

• CancerCare Manitoba Screening Program Health Educators

The HPV vaccine is a safe vaccine. 

Like any vaccine or medication, side effects may occur. The most commonly reported side effects from the HPV vaccine include:

• soreness,
• pain, and
• swelling

at the site of injection. To date, no serious side effects have been shown to be caused by the HPV vaccine.

Before a vaccine is approved by Health Canada and ready to use in Canada, it undergoes a long testing process that takes at least 10 years. Health Canada approves vaccines based on a scientific review of their quality, safety, and effectiveness.

After a vaccine is approved, it is monitored on an ongoing basis at a local, provincial, and national level for any adverse events after immunization. An adverse event following immunizations (AEFI) is any unwanted effect that occurs in a person after they are given a vaccine. Each case is carefully reviewed to determine if the adverse event was caused by the HPV vaccine. Systems and groups exist to continually monitor, review, and recommend after each adverse event following immunization. These groups include:

• Immunization and Monitoring Program ACTive
• Public Health Nurses
• Medical Officers of Health
• Manitoba Centre for Disease Control
• Canadian Adverse Events Following Immunization Surveillance System (Public Health Agency of Canada)
• Advisory Committee on Causality Assessment
• National Advisory Committee on Immunization
• World Health Organization International Drug Monitoring Programme
• World Health Organization Global Advisory Committee on Vaccine Safety

The benefits of the HPV vaccine include:

• if the HPV vaccine is received before sexual contact occurs, it can provide protection against:
• 90% of cervical cancers
• 90% of anal cancers
• 90% of genital warts
• 40% of penile cancers
• 55% vulvar
• 55% vaginal
• 75% mouth/throat
• The HPV vaccine is safe and well tolerated.
• The HPV vaccine does not cause an HPV infection.

Be aware that the:

• most common side effects from the HPV vaccine include soreness, pain, and swelling at the site of injection. To date, no reported serious side effects have been shown to be caused by the HPV vaccine.
• HPV vaccine will not protect against existing HPV infections. For example, if a person gets the HPV vaccine after having HPV 16, they will no longer be protected against HPV 16.
• HPV vaccine does not protect against all types of HPV that can cause cancer.