Boys in Ontario will soon be able to get the HPV vaccine in school.

The human papilloma-virus vaccine is currently offered for free to grade eight girls in Ontario schools. Starting in September, the program is being expanded to students in grade seven, and boys will be included. The government says about 154 000 students will be eligible to receive the vaccine each year.

HPV can cause different kinds of cancer in both females and males. It causes more than 250 deaths and nearly 1100 cases of cancer every year in Ontario. Experts recommend immunizing girls and boys between the ages of nine and 13.