After stirring up much controversy, a number of school boards have decided NOT to offer the HPV vaccine to their young students (for example The Red Deer Catholic Regional School Division).
Toronto Public Health (TPH) however, has managed to get both the Toronto District School Board and the Toronto Catholic School Board on board with the HPV vaccination program.
Following approval of the Toronto District School Board in August 2007 and the Toronto Catholic School Board in September 2007, TPH held three clinics at participating schools through the 2007-2008 school year, providing three doses of the HPV vaccine. Additional clinics (“catch up clinics”) were held during evenings and summer months, for those that missed the in school vaccinations.
In order for a young girl to receive the free vaccine, signed parental support was required. Grade eight females were given an “information package” to take home to parents. This “information package” included a letter outlining the program, a HPV vaccine fact sheet, a consent form and a pamphlet. As a side note, the fact sheet was translated into twelve languages and all materials were available online at www. Toronto.ca/health. How many parents fully understood this material with no concerns is unclear – and will we ever know? Grade eight teachers were also provided a letter and training packages on HPV for students.
Only upon REQUEST, did TPH sexual health educators provide HPV related education – which could be argued as being one of the most important aspects of this program; EDUCATION. However, this all-important education was only provided to 43 classrooms and a mere 51 teachers had training on HPV.
TPH offered the HPV vaccine to over 13 000 females in 432 public and private schools (with grade 8 classrooms). By July 2008 TPH had “achieved” an uptake of 61% for the first dose, 59% for the second and 52% for the third. As stated on their website, TPH is conducting a study to identify parents’ reasons for refusing the vaccination.
20% of students did not even return the form – so whether or not their parents even saw the consent form could be questioned.
While continuing to stay on top of things, TPH provided parents of grade 7 females with HPV info packages for the 2008-2009 school year. Posters, fact sheets and consent forms were to be distributed this fall 2008. Additionally, as I’m sure you are all painfully aware; a provincial mass media campaign is already under way - as are radio, print cinema and internet advertising.
Oh and don’t forget - TPH will be collaborating with school boards to provide teacher training and classroom instruction on HPV – WHEN REQUESTED. Should this not be mandatory with a vaccination program as controversial as that of HPV?
Toronto District School Board. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Vaccination Program Update. September 4, 2008. Medical Officer of Health.
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2 comments:
I completely agree that education is really important. How can you rason giving girls vaccines without them even knowing what it is for? Teachers shuld be available to answer questions and be educated on HPV too.
That is a big part of what we feel is missing in this policy, a required educational component on HPV, as well as other vaccinations, not just for students, but for teachers too!
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