HPV vaccine report may stop some from getting shot: health official

Public health officials in northeastern Ontario worry that recent media coverage about the HPV vaccine means fewer girls will get the shot.

The Toronto Star has apologized for a story highlighting teenagers who had serious side effects after getting vaccinated for the human papilloma virus.

A public health nurse at the North Bay-Parry Sound health unit said it could still affect vaccination rates that have been on the rise.

"It does have potential to deter people from immunizing their children, immunizing themselves, and it's difficult to undo that damage once it's been done,” Jaymie-Lynn Blanchard said.

In North Bay, about 65 per cent of Grade 8 girls received the HPV vaccine last year.

In Sudbury and area, the rate is about 55 per cent and, for Sault Ste. Marie-Algoma, it's up over 60 per cent.

Blanchard said talk about dangerous side effects from the HPV vaccine circulated on the internet for months before hitting the news media.

"The accessible information is not always the most accurate."

She's watched the HPV immunization rates at the North Bay-Parry Sound health unit climb steadily over the last few years.

While the newspaper story has been rescinded, Blanchard is worried it will scare teenaged girls away from getting the shot.

"It's unfortunate, but that can have an impact on vaccine rates. So it's really important that people understand to get that information from scientific, evidence-based resources."

But the manager of clinical and family services at the Sudbury and District Health Unit doesn't see the recent media coverage having much of an impact.

"No, I think people who do have questions would speak with their health care provider or their public health unit,” Lisa Schell said.

Girls sign up for the HPV vaccine in the fall, so any change likely wouldn't be noticed until then.