ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - This fall, Newfoundland and Labrador will begin vaccinating all girls in Grade 6 to protect against a virus that causes cervical cancer.
The province announced today it will start giving Gardasil, which protects against four types of the human papilloma virus, to about 2,800 girls beginning in September.
The vaccine was approved last year by Health Canada and the federal government has set aside $300 million to fund it.
Health Minister Ross Wiseman says the provincial government wants all women to take advantage of the vaccine to avoid cervical cancer and that the program complements efforts such as pap smear exams to cut down on the disease.
But some medical researchers have warned against the swift rollout of the vaccine, arguing that its long-term effects have yet to be determined and it may discourage women from getting regular pap smears.
HPV infects half of all sexually-active women between ages 18 and 22 in North America.
The province is the fourth in the country to announce such an HPV vaccination program.
