A new age-based HPV vaccination program in Alberta helped mitigate lower immunization rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to recently published research.
The vaccine, which prevents cervical and other cancers, is recommended in Canada for everyone aged nine to 26, and is typically offered to students in Grade 5 or 6. About 60 per cent of Canadian children under age 13 have been vaccinated.
Canada has pledged to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040, but the latest statistics show the drop in cases has plateaued.
The study tracked vaccinations in the 16-26 age group between February 2018 and December 2023. Eligibility for publicly funded HPV vaccination was initially limited to those at high risk, but it was expanded to include everyone in July 2020, just as pandemic restrictions took effect.
Key findings included lower vaccination rates among males and rural residents, and good uptake among newcomers to the province.
“While the findings suggest that making the vaccine more widely available through the age-based public funding helped maintain or improve delivery despite the pandemic, overall vaccination rates remain low for this age group,” says first author Laura Reifferscheid, a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Nursing.
The researchers conclude that better vaccine promotion is needed, with a focus on cancer prevention and access in rural areas.