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HPV vaccine info –updated on March 4, 2024

HPV VACCINE – HAVE IT DONE AT SINA PHARMACY

*** We are running a HPV clinic at Sina Pharmacy. Book an appointment to have your vaccines done ***

March 4th is the International HPV awareness Day. As such, Sina Pharmacy has started  a new HPV clinic . Our pharmacists can have a 15-minute appointment to go over your questions, check the criteria to see if you qualify for a publicly funded vaccine, and administer the shot.   You can make your appointment by following the instructions below. After booking your appointment please make sure you fill the Consent Form and the COVID Questionnaire and submit it to us before your appointment.  Please make sure to read the FAQ section below where the answer to most of your questions can be found.

There are two HPV vaccines  available in Canada: Cervarix® (HPV2) and Gardasil®9 (HPV9).  The HPV9 vaccine is approved for use in both males and females. The HPV2 vaccine is only approved for use in females. HPV2 only gives protection for 2 viruses vs HPV9 gives protection against 9 different viruses (including the 2 found in HPV2) as such it is recommended for all patients to have HPV9 (Gardasil®9).

INSTRUCTIONS :

Step 1: Check to see if you qualify for a public HPV vaccine. If you do not qualify (see eligibility criteria below), you can still book you appointment but you need to pay for each dose of the vaccine you get.  Note: most extended insurance companies offer partial/full coverage for HPV vaccine (please check with your insurance company).

Step 2: Book an appointment

Step 3: Download and fill out the consent form

Step 4: Read the instruction below about how to prepare and attend to your appointment. 

1. DO YOU QUALIFY FOR PUBLIC HPV VACCINE?

The HPV9 vaccine is provided free to:
⊗ HIV positive individuals 9-26 years of age
⊗ Transgender individuals 9-26 years of age
⊗ Men 9 to 26 years of age who:
⊗ have sex with other men
⊗ are not yet sexually active but are questioning their sexual orientation
⊗ are street-involved
⊗ Boys 9 to 18 years of age in the care of the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD)
⊗ Boys and men of any age who are in youth custody services centres
⊗ Girls and boys in grade 6
⊗ Boys born in 2005
⊗ Girls who did not get the vaccine in Grade 6. If they start their vaccine series before age 19 and complete before age 26.

 The HPV9 vaccine is also recommended, but not provided free (unless mentioned above), for:
⊗ Adult women up to 45 years of age
⊗ Boys and men 9-26 years of age
⊗ Men 27 years of age and older who have sex with men

NOTE:  Most extended insurance companies cover the cost of HPV vaccines. If you do not qualify for the public one, you can check with you extended insurance company for coverage terms. 

2. BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT

How to book your appointment: 1. select “HPV Vaccine” from the Service tab below, 2. choose the appointment date and time, 3. provide your personal info, and 4. submit the data.

Reduce your health risks and have your HPV vaccine done — All you need is your provincial health card & 15 minutes of your time.

3. HPV vaccine consent form

Patients are required to complete a consent form prior to their appointment. You can download the form, fill it out, and bring it with you to your scheduled visit. If you do not have the ability to print the form at home, don’t worry, we can provide you with a blank form at the time of your appointment. 

 

4. instructions about how to prepare and attend to your appointment

  • Have your BC Care Card or BC Services Card ready for patient identification
  • Wear a mask or face covering to help protect yourself and our staff giving your injection
  • Upon entering our facility, please sanitize your hands right away using the sanitizer by the entrance doors and follow the instruction on how to enter the room for receiving your vaccine.
  • Please wear a short sleeve shirt to make it easy for our pharmacist to give you the shot in your arm.
  • You will be asked to wait for around 15 minutes after the shot just in case you have a rare reaction to the shot.
  • To avoid having too many patients waiting around in the pharmacy please stay seated after your appointment and if you would like to browse around to pickup products please ask for staff help to minimize your time in the pharmacy and allow other patients to enter safely.
  • Please come in on your own, without additional persons or children, unless you require the assistance of a caregiver.
  • Please bring in as few belongings as possible as there will not be any space to put additional belongings.

Gardasil 9 – Instruction Video

In this video, our registered nurse, Sarah, will go over the indications, dosing, side effects, and coverage details of Gardasil-9.

FAQ:

Most cervical cancers are associated with human papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection. Widespread immunization with the HPV vaccine could reduce the impact of cervical cancer and other cancers caused by HPV worldwide. Here’s what you need to know about the HPV vaccine.
  • HPV is one of the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Three out of four sexually active people will get HPV at some point in their lives.
  • Anyone who has any kind of sexual activity with another person involving oral, genital, or anal contact can get HPV.
  • Sexual intercourse is not necessary to get infected.
  • The more sexual partners you have, the higher the risk of being infected with HPV.
  • Men who have sex with men are also at higher risk of HPV infection.
  • Most people infected with HPV do not show any signs or symptoms and can pass the virus onto others without even knowing it.
  • Most often, an HPV infection will clear on its own. For some people, HPV will not go away, and cells infected with the virus can become
  • cancerous over time.

  • The HPV vaccines protect against infection from certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) that cause cancers of the anus, cervix, mouth and throat, penis, vagina, and vulva as well as genital warts
  • There are two HPV vaccines  available in Canada: Cervarix® (HPV2) and Gardasil®9 (HPV9).  The HPV9 vaccine is approved for use in both males and females. The HPV2 vaccine is only approved for use in females.
  • Both vaccines protect against 2 types of HPV that cause about 70% of cases of cervical cancer and 80% of cases of anal cancer. The HPV9 vaccine protects against 5 additional types of HPV that cause 15% to 20% of cervical cancers and 11% of anal cancers in women and 4% in men.
  • The HPV9 vaccine also protects against 2 types of HPV that cause about 90% of cases of genital warts.

HPV9 vaccine

In BC, the HPV9 vaccine is provided free to girls and boys in grade 6.

Boys (born in 2006 or later) and girls who did not get the vaccine in grade 6 remain eligible for the free HPV vaccine if they start their vaccine series before their 19th birthday and complete it before their 26th birthday.

The HPV9 vaccine is also provided free to:

  • HIV positive individuals 9-26 years of age
  • Transgender individuals 9-26 years of age
  • Men 9 to 26 years of age who:
    • have sex with other men
    • are not yet sexually active but are questioning their sexual orientation
    • are street-involved
  • Boys 9 to 18 years of age in the care of the Ministry of Children and Family Development (MCFD)
  • Boys and men of any age who are in youth custody services centres

The HPV9 vaccine is also recommended, but not provided free (unless mentioned above), for:

  • Adult women up to 45 years of age
  • Boys and men 9-26 years of age
  • Men 27 years of age and older who have sex with men

HPV2 vaccine

The HPV2 vaccine is recommended, but not provided free, for girls and women 9 to 45 years of age. The HPV2 vaccine is not currently approved for use in boys or men.

Anyone who is not eligible for a free HPV vaccine can purchase it from  Sina Pharmacy.

GARDASIL 9 may be given as 2 (at 0 and 6 months) or 3 doses (at 0, 2 and 6 months). *If the second shot is given earlier than 5 months after the first shot, you will need to get a third shot at least 4 months after the second shot was given. **The need to use a 3-dose schedule instead of a 2-dose schedule will be determined by your health care professional.

The HPV vaccine isn’t recommended for pregnant women or people who are moderately or severely ill. Tell your doctor if you have any severe allergies, including an allergy to yeast or latex. Also, if you’ve had a life-threatening allergic reaction to any component of the vaccine or to a previous dose of the vaccine, you shouldn’t get the vaccine.

Yes. Even if you already have one strain of HPV, you could still benefit from the vaccine because it can protect you from other strains that you don’t yet have. However, none of the vaccines can treat an existing HPV infection. The vaccines protect you only from specific strains of HPV you haven’t been exposed to already.

The HPV vaccine has been found to be safe in many studies.

Overall, the effects are usually mild. The most common side effects of HPV vaccines include soreness, swelling or redness at the injection site.

Sometimes dizziness or fainting occurs after the injection. Remaining seated for 15 minutes after the injection can reduce the risk of fainting. Headaches, nausea, vomiting, fatigue or weakness also may occur.

Yes. The HPV vaccine isn’t intended to replace Pap tests. Routine screening for cervical cancer through regular Pap tests beginning at age 21 remains an essential part of preventive health care.

ImmunizeBC HPV Vaccine: https://immunizebc.ca/hpv

 

We Can Be the First

 

 

Vaccination Needs Across the Lifespan: 

Vaccinations Across the Lifespan

ImmunizeBC: HPV (Human Papillomavirus). <link>.

Mayo clinic: HPV vaccine: Who needs it, how it works. <link>.

Immunize.io – : Mayo clinic: HPV vaccine: Who needs it, how it works. <link>.

HealthLinkBC : Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines <link>.