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opinion: ontario can strengthen efforts against hpv-related cancers by empowering pharmacists to give vaccines
the tools exist to prevent hpv-related cancers—it’s time to put them to use
3 minute read
canadians overwhelmingly support pharmacist involvement in vaccine delivery, and pharmacists are trained and ready to help.
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ontario’s chief medical officer of health recently called for a centralized vaccine registry to modernize how we track immunizations. we are very pleased with this important critical step, but it only solves part of the problem: people still can’t get vaccinated easily, especially as it relates to the human papillomavirus (hpv) vaccine, without a prescription.
right now, in ontario, if you want the hpv vaccine and you’re not eligible for a publicly-funded dose, you need a prescription from a doctor, nurse practitioner or registered nurse just to get coverage through private insurance. even though pharmacists are trained and authorized to administer the vaccine, they’re not allowed to prescribe it. that means patients are sent back and forth between providers, wasting time and delaying protection.
it is also not the only problem. it is also leaving many ontarians vulnerable to certain types of preventable cancers.
the public is ready, but policy is not there yet.
the national vaccine survey by the federation of medical women of canada (fmwc) shows the majority of ontarians (76 per cent) support granting pharmacists the authority to prescribe all vaccines, including hpv. the same survey reveals widespread backing for more inclusive access, with 86 per cent saying the hpv vaccine should be free for adults, 77 per cent backing availability for adults of any age, and 79 per cent supporting access regardless of biological sex.
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this last point is important. while hpv is commonly linked to cervical cancer, the virus affects everyone. many men and boys carry hpv without knowing it, and hpv-related cancers of the head and neck—especially oropharyngeal cancers—are now diagnosed more often in men than women.
ontarians want easy access to the hpv vaccine. they expect to walk into a pharmacy and get vaccinated, not hit red tape barriers.
this policy failure gets even trickier in rural and underserved communities—places where seeing a doctor isn’t easy, and where pharmacists are often the most accessible healthcare providers.
canada is falling behind on cervical cancer elimination.
hpv is responsible for nearly all cases of cervical cancer. three in four unvaccinated canadians will contract hpv at some point in their lives. vaccinating before age 17 can reduce cervical cancer risk by up to 90 per cent.
canada has committed to eliminating cervical cancer by 2040, in line with the world health organization’s global target. however, for the first time since 1984, cervical cancer is now the fastest-growing cancer in canada, with incidence rising 3.7 per cent per year since 2015.
each year, an estimated 1,600 canadian women will be diagnosed with cervical cancer in 2024, and an estimated 400 will die from it.
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yet over half (54 per cent) of ontarians haven’t received the hpv vaccine, and 23 per cent aren’t sure if they have. among those unvaccinated, 69 per cent say they didn’t think they needed it, highlighting a persistent gap in public knowledge about hpv and its risks.
hpv immunization protects against nine hpv types, including the high-risk strains responsible for 90 per cent of cervical cancers. the science is clear. the solution is available—tried, tested, and true.
the hpv vaccine is highly effective, and we now have real-world evidence from other countries that have done a more complete job of vaccinating and are now seeing declining rates of cancer.
pharmacies are ready, pharmacists are trained, and the public is supportive.
we don’t need a perfect system to act. a vaccine registry can help track doses and reduce duplication, but it should not be used as an excuse to delay broader access. the greater risk is leaving people unvaccinated due to unnecessary barriers.
time to stop talking and start prescribing.
as we approach hpv prevention week (october 1–7), ontario has an opportunity to strengthen cancer prevention—but current vaccination access lags behind public need.
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canadians overwhelmingly support pharmacist involvement in vaccine delivery, and pharmacists are trained and ready to help.
the tools exist to prevent hpv-related cancers. it’s time to put them to use.
dr. vivien brown is a family physician, chair hpv prevention week and chair of the federation of medical women of canada (fmwc)’s hpv task force.
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