Where can I get vaccinated?
Most people will get the vaccine from their doctor in the form of a prescription. Although some doctor’s offices and clinics may have the vaccine on hand, it is more likely that your doctor will give you a prescription that you will have to take to a pharmacy.
- Once you have the vaccine, you will have to arrange to have it injected by a health-care professional.
- You will also need to make sure that you store the vaccine correctly (the pharmacist will tell you how to do this).
- The vaccine (three injections) costs about $450.
- Some insurance plans that provide employee benefits will pay for all or some of the cost. If you have health benefits through your job, you should check to see what is covered.
HPV vaccination requires three injections. The three injections must be given by a health care professional. Here’s how it works:
- You receive your first injection.
- Two months later, you will receive a second one.
- Four months after that, you will receive the final injection to complete the immunization process.
You must have all three injections to be sure you are protected from HPV. Doctors say that it is okay to increase the length of time between injections, but you should not get the third shot any sooner than four months after the second one.
Where can I get the HPV vaccination for free?
To find out who qualifies for publicly funded HPV vaccination in your province read our quick-guide to HPV Immunization Strategies by Province.
The Federal Government promised $300 million for HPV immunization in its 2007 budget. It suggested that provinces use this fund to provide free vaccination. Some insurance companies that provide employee health benefits have agreed to cover some or all the cost of HPV vaccination. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC) is urging all provinces and territories to immediately provide free HPV vaccination to all girls and young women aged 9 to 26.
