The province will expand its vaccination program for human papillomavirus to include boys starting next fall.

Health Minister Sharon Blady, along with Michael Routledge, the province’s chief public health officer, made the announcement Wednesday. Both said expanding the program will assist in reduction and prevention of certain types of cancers in males.

The province, which began immunizing girls in Grade 6 in 2008, will now offer the vaccination to boys in Grade 6 starting in September 2016, while boys in Grade 9 will be offered the vaccine free of charge for the next three years.

Blady said the three-year window is designed “to do the catch up” for students who are currently in Grade 6 who will miss next year’s first vaccinations.

“We actually have cancers that are preventable by vaccine and that’s not something we can say for all of them, so the opportunity here is very simple, straightforward idea,” Blady said.

HPV has been linked to cervical cancer in women, but Routledge said it should be known that in some cases it can lead to anal, and head and neck cancers in males.

Manitoba is the fourth province to offer such a program.

“I think you’re going to see more introducing HPV (vaccines) for boys, but we’re ahead of the curve in Manitoba on this one,” Routledge said. “It’s a number of factors coming together for what is I think pretty clearly a beneficial program.”

WHAT IS IT?

While there are more than 100 HPV types that can affect many parts of the body, there are “low-risk” and “high-risk” HPV, with the latter being the classification for those that can lead to cancer. Some types of HPV can be sexually transmitted and can cause warts or cancer. HPV-related cancer is considered rare.

HOW IS IT PREVENTED?

Sexual protection like condoms can assist in preventing the spread of HPV but is not a sure-fire method. Doctors recommend abstinence, delaying sexual activity and limiting of partners to reduce the risk, while two vaccines are certified by Health Canada.

WHAT ARE THE VACCINES?

Gardasil is available to males and females aged 9-26; Cervarix is used by women 10-25, but can be prescribed to women 26 and up.

david.larkins@sunmedia.ca

Twitter: @LarkinsWSun