THERE ARE MANY THINGS IN LIFE
YOU CAN’T PREVENT…
BUT YOU CAN HELP PREVENT CERTAIN HPV-RELATED CANCERS, WITH GARDASIL®9
HPV INFECTIONS CAN CAUSE CERTAIN CANCERS & DISEASES
Did you know ~75% of sexually active Canadians will get at least one HPV infection in their lifetime?
In addition to HPV being the most common sexually transmitted infection, some types of HPV are responsible for:
≥70%
of certain head & neck cancers
Almost 100%
of cervical cancers
40%
of vulvar & vaginal cancers
80–90%
of anal cancers
40-50%
of penile cancers*
Over 90%
of genital warts
WHY SHOULD YOU HELP GARD YOURSELF?
About 75% of sexually active Canadians will have at least one HPV infection during their lifetime.
HPV doesn’t discriminate between the sexes. Men and women who are sexually active are equally at risk of getting an HPV infection.
Condoms or dental dams may not be enough to protect you against HPV – they only protect the area they cover.
Being in a monogamous relationship does NOT protect you from HPV infections.
All eligible individuals aged 9 through 45 should consider getting GARDASIL®9 to help protect themselves against genital warts and certain HPV-related cancers.
Speak to a healthcare professional and get vaccinated today!
The GARDASIL®9 vaccine is available in clinics and pharmacies across Canada.
Type in your postal code below to find the vaccination sites near you.
We recommend contacting the selected clinic or pharmacy to confirm vaccine availability and accuracy of the information displayed.
Talk to your healthcare professional about GARDASIL®9
You can also use a virtual consultation service to learn more about HPV vaccination.
For more information on what is needed to get vaccinated in your province or territory, click here to learn more.
NEED MORE REASONS TO HELP GARD YOURSELF?
Many people who have HPV don’t even realize it because the infection often has no signs or symptoms – which means they can pass on the virus to others without knowing it.‡
There is no screening test for HPV in men. Even if vaccinated, men should schedule regular health exams with their doctor and check for signs of genital warts and HPV-related cancers.§ Similarly, vaccinated women should still schedule cervical cancer screening tests according to their province’s guidelines.
With vaccination, you could help prevent certain HPV-related cancers and diseases before they start.
HPV=human papillomavirus;
FAQ=frequently asked question;
GPS=global positioning system.
* GARDASIL®9 is not indicated to prevent penile cancer.
† Some conditions and fees may apply.
‡ GARDASIL®9 is not indicated to reduce transmission.
§ GARDASIL®9 is not indicated for the treatment of genital warts or HPV-related cancers.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION
GARDASIL®9 is a vaccine indicated for individuals 9 through 45 years of age for the prevention of infection caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58 and the following diseases associated with the HPV types included in the vaccine: certain head and neck cancers, such as throat and back of mouth cancers, caused by HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58. GARDASIL®9 has been approved with conditions. This means it has passed Health Canada’s review and can be bought and sold in Canada, but the manufacturer has agreed to complete more studies to make sure the vaccine works the way it should. For more information, talk to your healthcare professional.
GARDASIL®9 is also indicated for individuals 9 through 45 years of age for the prevention of infection caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58 and the following diseases associated with the HPV types included in the vaccine: cervical, vulvar, vaginal, and anal cancer caused by HPV types 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58; genital warts (condyloma acuminata) caused by HPV types 6 and 11; abnormal and precancerous cervical lesions (changes in cells of the cervix that have a risk of turning into cancer) as found in a Pap test caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52, and 58; abnormal and precancerous vaginal, vulvar (outside of the female genital area) and anal lesions caused by HPV types 6, 11, 16, 18, 31, 33, 45, 52 and 58.
GARDASIL®9 does not protect the person getting the vaccine from a disease that is caused by other types of HPV, other viruses, or bacteria, and from HPV types that he/she may already have; but most people do not have all types contained in the vaccine. GARDASIL®9 does not treat HPV infection. GARDASIL®9 may not fully protect each person who gets it. GARDASIL®9 does not remove the need for screening for cervical, vulvar, vaginal, anal, and certain head and neck cancers, such as throat and back of mouth cancers; women should still get routine cervical cancer screening. You should not get GARDASIL®9 during pregnancy. If you plan to get pregnant or get pregnant, you should wait until you are no longer pregnant to complete your vaccine series. In more than 1,000 pregnancies, women who were pregnant or became pregnant after getting GARDASIL®9 did not have a higher chance for miscarriages or babies with birth defects. Pregnant women exposed to GARDASIL®9 are encouraged to report their exposure or suspected adverse reactions by contacting Merck Canada Inc., at 1-800-567-2594. It is not known whether GARDASIL®9 is excreted in human milk. If you are breast-feeding, talk to your doctor or health care professional to see if you should be vaccinated with GARDASIL®9. Tell the doctor or health care professional if you or your child (the person getting GARDASIL®9), is pregnant or is planning to get pregnant. GARDASIL®9 may cause some side effects and allergic reactions. The most common side effects seen are pain, swelling, redness, itching, bruising, bleeding, a lump where the shot is given, headache, fever, nausea, dizziness, tiredness, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and sore throat. Fainting can happen after getting an HPV vaccine. Signs of an allergic reaction may include difficulty breathing, wheezing (bronchospasm), hives, and rash. This is not a complete list of side effects; for any unexpected effects while taking GARDASIL®9, contact your healthcare professional Contact your doctor or healthcare professional to determine if GARDASIL®9 is an appropriate option for you.
Information about GARDASIL®9 is provided in the Product Monograph and Consumer Information, available here.
