The HPV vaccine is now being offered for free to men under 27 in the LGBTQ community.
The Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit says that Ontario is expanding the publicly funded HPV immunization program by offering the vaccine to those men who identify as gay, bisexual, or have sexual relations with other men. The health unit says that they are at higher risk of HPV infection which can lead to certain cancers.
The vaccine is also provided to boys and girls in grade 7 as part of the routine school-based immunization program.
Those who are interested in the vaccine can do so at one of the health unit’s immunization or sexual health clinics. You can learn more at www.healthunit.org.