Protecting Our Daughters

Toronto, ON - When it comes to protecting their daughters against potentially life-threatening medical conditions, it appears that Canadian parents want their provincial governments to step up to the plate. In a major study of parents of teenage girls in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec conducted by Ipsos Reid, the results show that nearly eight in ten (77%) parents are `strongly in favour' of their provincial governments using federally-earmarked funds to supply the HPV vaccine free of charge, with one in six (17%) indicating that they are `somewhat in favour' of this course of action. Just 5% of Canadian parents are either `somewhat' (3%) or `strongly against' (2%) having their provincial governments supply this vaccine free of charge.

HPV, or human papillomavirus, is one of the most common families of viruses in the world today, and it is the world's leading sexually-transmitted infection. Potentially leading to cervical lesions, genital warts, and even vaginal, vulvar and cervical cancers, HPV and the medical conditions associated with it can ultimately lead to fatalities.

Thinking about the availability of the HPV vaccine, eight in ten (81%) parents agree that they would allow their daughter to be vaccinated if the vaccine were administered in school. Indicating that they believe the need is urgent, 93% of those who would choose to have their daughters vaccinated in their schools say that this course of action should start `right away' (55%) or at the beginning of this upcoming school year (38%).

These are the findings of an Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of Merck Frosst Canada from June 27 to July 9, 2007. For the survey, a representative randomly selected sample of 3,686 parents of teenage girls aged 9-17, living in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec was interviewed online. With a sample of this size, the results are considered accurate to within 177 1.6 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, of what they would have been had the entire parent population of teenage girls aged 9-17 in these provinces been polled. The margin of error will be larger within regions and for other sub-groupings of the survey population. These data were weighted to ensure that the sample's regional composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population in these provinces according to Census data.

Eight in ten (77%) Strongly in Favour of Provincial Governments providing HPV Vaccine Free of Charge...

Since these funds are available to provincial governments as a result of monies earmarked by the federal government, eight in ten (77%) Canadian parents are strongly in favour of provincial governments providing HPV vaccines free of charge through public health programs. Further, it appears that a significant proportion are in favour, but to a less intense degree, with 17% agreeing that they are `somewhat' in favour of this tactic. Just 3% are somewhat against this procedure, and 2% are strongly against it.

• As family income decreases, support for free public vaccinations rises. 81% of individuals whose families earn less than $55,000 a year are in favour of the government providing this service free of charge, while 75% of individuals whose families earn between $55,000 and $100,000 and 73% of individuals whose families earn in excess of $100,000 support this move.
• From among those who believe that the cost of this vaccination (approximately $405) is a significant deterrent to them, 83% are strongly in favour of this vaccination being made free to Canadian girls and young women throughout the public health network.
• 82% of women with teenage daughters are strongly in favour of this service being provided free of charge.
• 81% of Canadian parents say that they would allow their daughter to be vaccinated against HPV if it were to be administered in the school system.

Parents Aware and Concerned about HPV...

With HPV becoming the world's leading sexually-transmitted infection, the reported awareness (unaided) of Canadian parents towards this condition appears to be quite strong.

• Three quarters (75%) of parents claimed to know about HPV prior to this study being conducted.
• When asked to estimate the likelihood of a female becoming infected with HPV at least some point in her life, the average response was 41%. While Canadian parents recognize that it is quite frequent, their estimation is still significantly distant from Health Canada's estimated incidence rate of 75%.
• From among those individuals who had heard of HPV, nearly one half (45%) correctly identified that it causes cancer and 10% know that it causes genital warts. Despite the fact that HPV-related diseases do lead to hundreds of deaths in Canada every year, just 5% of Canadians, unaided, identified that they thought HPV-related diseases could lead to death.
• Four in ten (41%) Canadian parents indicate that they are either `extremely' (14%) or 'very' (26%) concerned about their daughter becoming infected with HPV at some point during their lives.

Along with being aware of the vaccine, almost all (98%) Canadians know that it is not a substitute for regular pap testing and recognize that pap testing for protection against cervical cancer is still necessary, even with the HPV vaccine.

Despite Good Awareness, Few Have Been Vaccinated...

Despite the fact that three quarters (75%) of Canadian parents of teenage girls indicate that they are aware of HPV, and while almost all Canadians (94%) agree that there is a need for a vaccine, only half (52%) are aware that a vaccine against HPV actually exists. Furthermore, just 3% of Canadians parents claim that they have had their daughters vaccinated against HPV.

• The likelihood that one has had their daughter vaccinated against HPV is positively correlated to one's income level.
  • 6% of Canadians whose families earn in excess of $100,000 have had their daughter vaccinated against HPV, while just 3% of individuals whose families earn between $55,000 and $100,000, and 1% of individuals whose families earn less than $55,000 report having their daughter being vaccinated against HPV.

Majority (57%) Say Costs a `Significant Deterrent'...

When informed that the current price for the HPV vaccine is approximately $405, a majority of (57%) of Canadians indicated that this cost would be a significant deterrent for them in providing the vaccine for their daughters. One third (32%) believe that it is `somewhat of a deterrent', while 8% say this cost is not really a deterrent, and 3% say that this cost is `not a deterrent at all'.

• One's household income appears to have a significant impact on one's propensity to agree that a cost of approximately $405 for the HPV vaccination is a significant deterrent.
  • 64% of parents who report their household income is less than $55,000 a year report that this cost would be a significant deterrent.
  • 54% of parents who report their household income is between than $55,000 and $100,000 a year report that this cost would be a significant deterrent.
  • Among those who report that their household income is in excess of $100,000 a year, 44% report the cost as being a significant deterrent.

Just 6% of Canadian parents whose family income is reportedly over $100,000 say that this cost is no deterrent at all.

For more information on this news release, please contact:
John Wright
Senior Vice President
Ipsos Reid
Public Affairs
(416) 324-2002
[email protected]

About Ipsos Reid
Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.

To learn more, please visit www.ipsos.ca.

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