TORONTO -- Boys in Ontario will soon be able to get the HPV vaccine in school under an expanded government program.

The Human Papillomavirus vaccine is currently offered for free to Grade 8 girls in Ontario schools.

Starting in September, the program is being expanded to students in Grade 7 and boys will be included too.

The government says about 154,000 students will be eligible to receive the HPV vaccine each year.

HPV has been estimated to cause about 254 deaths and 1,090 cases of cancer every year in Ontario.

The government says HPV can cause different kinds of cancer in both females and males and experts recommend immunizing girls and boys between the ages of nine and 13.