HPV vaccine in schools: grade and doses by province

Every province and territory in Canada offers the HPV vaccine to students through school-based programs, but the grade and the number of doses vary by jurisdiction, according to Public Health Agency of Canada tables updated in July 2026.

Most programs start in Grade 6 or Grade 7. Several now use a single dose, while others still give two. The vaccine protects against the human papillomavirus, which can cause certain cancers later in life.

Below is the routine school schedule for each jurisdiction, followed by what the federal tables say about catch-up for older teens and adults. Families should confirm clinic dates with their local public health unit or school board, since those are set locally.

British Columbia

Grade 6, one dose.

Alberta

Grade 6, two doses.

Saskatchewan

Grade 6, two doses.

Manitoba

Grade 6, two doses. Manitoba follows a “once eligible, always eligible” policy for publicly funded vaccines, so a person who missed the school clinic can still get the dose later.

Ontario

Grade 7, two doses.

Quebec

Fourth year of primary school, one dose. Quebec also runs a catch-up program in the third year of secondary school, where students are offered missed vaccines, including HPV.

New Brunswick

Grade 7, one dose.

Nova Scotia

Grade 7, two doses.

Prince Edward Island

Grade 6, two doses, with a catch-up opportunity in Grade 12.

Newfoundland and Labrador

Grade 6, two doses.

Yukon

Children and adolescents aged 12 and older (Grade 6), one dose.

Northwest Territories

Grade 4, 5 or 6 (starting at age 9), two doses.

Nunavut

Grade 6, one dose.

Catch-up for older teens and adults

The federal table for previously immunized, healthy adults lists who can still get a publicly funded HPV vaccine outside school.

British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and New Brunswick list people younger than 27. B.C. also covers some adults aged 27 to 45, and the province notes that people 27 and older with a chronic illness or weakened immune system may qualify at no charge.

Quebec lists people younger than 21 and some adults aged 27 to 45. Nova Scotia has a catch-up program for people younger than 19. Prince Edward Island lists all adults aged 18 to 26 and adults aged 27 to 45 with risk factors.

In the territories, Yukon lists people younger than 27, along with some adults aged 27 to 45 with risk factors. The Northwest Territories lists people younger than 27 and high-risk individuals. Nunavut lists people younger than 27 and high-risk individuals aged 28 and older.

Manitoba, Ontario, and Newfoundland and Labrador are marked “N/A” in the adult table, which means the vaccine is not publicly funded for that group outside the school-age programs. The table notes that HPV vaccine is publicly funded in several jurisdictions for adults with risk factors that place them at increased risk of infection.

Anyone who is unsure whether they qualify can ask a pharmacist, a family doctor or the local public health unit, which can check eligibility and book an appointment where the vaccine is offered.

This article is based on official guidance from the Public Health Agency of Canada and is provided for general public information. It’s not a substitute for medical advice, if you have questions about how this applies to you, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

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Sources: Public Health Agency of Canada, Provincial and territorial routine vaccination programs for infants and children; Provincial and territorial routine vaccination programs for healthy, previously immunized adults.