For the boys: Province considering covering cost of HPV vaccine

The Newfoundland and Labrador government is looking at covering the cost of human papillomavirus virus vaccinations (HPV) for boys in the province.

The province began paying for vaccines for girls in 2007, and is now considering an expansion of the program.

"We make decisions all the time about which vaccines we are going to be able to cover under our provincial vaccination program," said Health Minister Steve Kent. 

"This is one that is certainly being actively considered. There hasn't been a decision made and it is something that we will continue to evaluate."

The HPV vaccination is available free to all girls in this province in Grade 6.

Virus causes cancer in men

Research has shown that two strains of HPV cause up to 70 per cent of all cervical cancer.

The virus is also known to be responsible for a high percentage of mouth, nose and throat cancers in men.

But in Canada, only Prince Edward Island and Alberta cover the cost of giving boys the vaccine.

Kent said that may change, but it won't be cheap.

It costs the province millions of dollars to give the vaccine to girls.

Kent said the cost of expanding the vaccination program to boys is being weighed against the possible savings to the health care system in the long-term.

"It's one of the many, many decisions that will be considered through this budget process that we are going through," Kent added.