Answering Your Common Questions About The HPV Vaccine

As children grow, parents are often faced with making important decisions, whether it’s about their child’s daily routines, their future education or their health and well-being. Navigating it all can feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to topics like vaccination.

Many parents have questions when new health information comes their way, including when they first hear about HPV or the HPV vaccine. HPV is a common virus that can affect people of all genders, and sorting through medical terminology, online opinions and well-meaning advice from friends can make it hard to know where to start. For example, it’s common for parents to have questions about timing, safety, sexual health associations, and the probability of long-term effects.

If you’ve been asking yourself questions like, “What is HPV exactly?” or “Why does my child need to get vaccinated so early if they are not sexually active yet?”, this resource is for you.

Who can I talk to?

Consider contacting a free, accessible and zero-judgment vaccination counselling service. MIIKOHVAC (which stands for motivational interviewing to increase knowledge on HPV vaccination) is supported by the Public Health Agency of Canada and is available via videoconference or by phone, scheduled at a time that works for you.

It’s a safe, no-pressure space for parents to ask questions or share concerns about HPV vaccination. This non-confrontational one-on-one counselling is available in English or French.

MIIKOHVAC empowers parents to make informed decisions. This easy-to-access service connects you with a health care professional who will listen and respond with empathy and balanced, evidence-based information. The trained counsellors also have a thorough understanding of the scientific data on HPV vaccination.

This service is based on a proven approach to meet parents’ needs. It builds on the success of a similar Quebec program called EMMIE, where vaccination counsellors meet interested parents in maternity wards to answer questions related to vaccines.

How does MIIKOHVAC work?

Step 1: Visit immunize.ca/miikohvac.

Step 2: Answer a short two-minute questionnaire so the counsellor understands your concerns and questions. This information will also help public health researchers get insights into the effectiveness of the program.

Step 3: Book a 15- to 45-minute appointment with a counsellor.

Step 4: Meet with the counsellor via phone or videoconference and ask any questions, without judgment or pressure.

Parenthood is all about making decisions, so getting the chance to have an open discussion with an expert can encourage you to feel more confident along the way. This thoughtful approach is an excellent tool to help you make informed decisions about HPV vaccination and your child.

Try MIIKOHVAC today until March 31, 2026.

This research project is approved by the Research Ethics Board of the CIUSSS de l’Estrie-CHUS. Principal investigator, Dr. Arnaud Gagneur.