A Call to Arms: Championing Universal HPV Vaccination in Ontario
In Ontario’s clinics and hospitals, where hushed conversations blend with the hum of fluorescent lighting and the incessant drone of alarms signaling a daily war, a different type of battle is being fought.
According to the Canadian Cancer Society, it is estimated that 1,550 Canadian women were diagnosed with cervical cancer by the end of 2023. Roughly 400 of them have died, or will. A malignant growth of cells that starts in the cervix, this cancer often manifests without any warning or symptoms, it continues to claim lives in every province.
Of course, every death is cause for suffering, but what makes this particular battle so vexing and so frustrating is our capacity to prevent most of the suffering entirely. Certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections are the main cause of cervical cancer, a common risk that can be dramatically reduced with vaccination.
This is, in essence, a no-brainer. The CDC estimates that vaccination can prevent over 90% of these cancers from ever developing. So why then does Ontario remain one of the few provinces not offering broad, affordable access to the HPV vaccine? Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Saskatchewan have all figured out how to offer this lifesaving vaccine to those who might have missed it during school, and it is well past time Ontario does the same. It’s time for the Ontario Ministry of Health to expand OHIP coverage, allowing free HPV vaccination for vulnerable young adults.
Yet this issue has nothing to do with partisan politics or political preferences. It’s simply about doing the right thing. This is an opportunity for any individual to make their own informed decision as an adult—for many young Ontarians, their parents make the decision for them not to be vaccinated during the current eligibility period.
As we consider possible solutions to the harsh realities of cervical cancer we face today, it is incumbent upon the healthcare and health-conscious community to raise our voices and advocate for universal access to the HPV vaccine for young adults. SWON Public Affairs, a non-partisan government relations firm serving Ontario, is actively consulting with the Ontario government as part of the “Make HPV Vaccine Free for Me” campaign, an effort emphasizing that this vaccine should not be thought of as a luxury, but as a fundamental right.
Dr. Gilla Shapiro, a Psychologist and Clinician-Scientist at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, and Assistant Professor at U of T, has published research showing that immunization programs must be accessible and affordable to enable adequate coverage across all demographics and effectively prevent HPV-related cancers. She has supported SWON’s advocacy to make the HPV vaccine affordable and accessible for all vulnerable people.
Offering the HPV vaccine for free goes beyond politics and medicine; it’s an ethical imperative. It is a declaration that every life holds intrinsic value and that we, as a society, are committed to shielding our loved ones from terrible suffering that is wholly preventable.
The consequences of HPV-related cancer extend beyond the afflicted individual to families, friends, coworkers and communities. The emotional toll is felt far beyond the immediate pain of diagnosis and treatment, infiltrating all aspects of a relationship, and testing our resilience in a crucible of adversity. By providing the HPV vaccine for free, we aren’t just preventing disease; we are preserving the sanctity of human connections.