The Wellington-Dufferin- Guelph Board of Health has decided to offer the publicly funded human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to Grade 8 girls during the last week of September.

The voluntary three-dose vaccine prevents some strains of HPV that can lead to cervical dysplasia. An information night for parents is scheduled in Guelph on September 24.

At its regular meeting, the Board also reviewed the Children in need of treatment program (CINOT). CINOT is a provincially mandated program that provides urgent dental treatment for children of families in financial hardship. In Wellington and Dufferin counties demand for the CINOT program has increased.

Twice as many elementary school children were screened in the 2006-07 school year as compared to 2005-06. As a result, more children were identified as needing urgent dental care.