Updated: Fri Sep. 26 2008 17:52:01

ctvcalgary.ca

The Calgary Catholic School District passed a motion Wednesday night to refuse to offer the HPV vaccine in its schools, making it the second school board in Alberta to do so.

Six out of seven board trustees voted in favour of opting out of giving the controversial vaccine to its grade five female students. The board says it is following the Alberta Bishops spiritual guidance on the issue.

The Chair of the Calgary Catholic Board, Margaret Belcourt told CTV News that parents will receive two letters, one from the Bishop stating his position and one from Alberta Health officials informing them about the vaccine.

"The Bishop felt it was a moral issue and that might make schools, Catholic schools, appear to be condoning pre-marital sex. We are saying, if parents felt that it's a health issue and not a moral issue, then the parents can make that decision," says Belcourt.

The decision will affect Grade 5 students in 83 schools within the Calgary Catholic School District.

A Catholic school board near Edmonton was the first to refuse to offer the vaccine to its students.

Alberta Health and Wellness officials say any school board can opt out of providing the HPV vaccine. But officials say the school system is the preferred way of delivering the vaccine, which can prevent cervical cancer and is most effective when given to girls before they are sexually active.

Health officials are looking at other ways to make the vaccine available to students.

The school program will begin this fall when the vaccine is offered to all Grade 5 girls. It will be extended to include all Grade 9 girls next year.

Comments are now closed for this story

Vanessa
In an increasingly non-religious world, who's to say these girls won't marry a guy who's never had sex? Of course some of them will! How incredibly ignorant.

Sheri S.
I can't express how disturbed I am by this. Protecting our daughters from cervical cancer should not be a moral issue. HPV doesn't only affect sexually active teenagers. Adult (married) woman have been known to contract the virus, through no fault of their own. Imagine thinking that you're safe because you're married, until the day your doctor sits you down and tells you that you have cervical cancer (I speak from experience). Having teenage daughters of my own now, who just missed the opportunity to get this vaccine in school, and not being able to afford to pay for the vaccine out of my own pocket, I am appalled that anyone would play russian roulette with their daughters life.

Diane Butcher- Mill Bay, BC
If the CCSB doesn't want to offer the HPV vaccine for moral reasons, then why is it giving Hepatitis B vaccine? Although Hepatitis B can be transmitted via IV drug use and contaminated blood transfusions, the predominant way it is transmitted is through sexual contact. It continues to be offered in Catholic schools. How can you give one vaccine, and deny offering the other one?

John
HPV / cervical cancer results from promiscuity, not occassional (or single) sexual partners. The vaccine does not prevent STDS or AIDS/HIV. There are no studies on the 20-30 year effects of giving girls this vaccine today. What if it causes/ increases infertility? There are hundreds of varieties of HPV and this vaccine only addresses 3 of them. Is it worth it? I think there's too many unknowns to be promoting it so shamelessly. What's wrong with teaching our young girls to NOT have multiple sex partners instead of getting this Vaccine?

Carleen
I agree with reader "John" in that there is not enough data on the long term affects of this vaccine. There are other preventative vaccines/drugs out there that do in fact cause severe and life long reprecussions to women, including their fertility. Moral issues aside, I am strongly against the Health Region providng this drug enmasse. Is anyone aware that the drug was only tested for less than two year and on 1200 subjects before being introducted into the marketplace? We are not sheep and we should not blindly follow what the Health Region (with deficiencies of their own), recommend. This is an individual and family decision only. As an FYI, most drug plans now cover the cost the vaccine.

Stace
This is ridiculous. The vaccine is to protect the girls from cervical cancer at any age - not necessarily when they are teenagers. It's a health issue, not a morality issue! A girl could be a victim of rape and contract HPV. A girl could marry a man who has HPV and get cervical cancer, even if she remained a virgin until marriage.

I find it ironic that the Catholic School Board decided to listen to the Bishop over this, yet they didn't want to listen to his recommendation regarding the casino fundraising back a few years ago. So - what I am hearing is that MONEY is more important than the health of girls. Sad.

Llora - Red Deer, Alberta
HPV can occur from one encounter with an infected partner. Cervical cancer can be caused by HPV or through "natural" causes. It does not go directly hand-in-hand with promiscuity. Is the same not true of HIV?

There is question about the vaccine having an affect on a girl's fertility - well cervical cancer can make sure she never has children also!

And even if a woman is married and faithful and was raised to NOT have multiple partners, what if her husband decides to reneg on his marital agreement and fools around, contracting the diesase? Now, because she was not vaccinated as a child, she runs the risk of being punished for loving the wrong man?

I am a 25 year old female who has had one sexual partner in her entire life. We have been together for 6 years. That said, I am not ignorant of his past as we have often discussed our histories - that's part of being in a trusting and monogomous relationship. I also am realistic in knowing that we may not be together forever. (We could decide to end our relationship, or he could die in a car crash, whatever...)

The point is that no one can predict a young girl's path. No one can predict whether or not she will choose to live a less than savoury life, or whether she will be raped or whether she will be a good Catholic girl like she was raised. Why punish her for future choices that haven't even been made yet?

Stacie
I believe it is the parents responsibility to make sure their children receive the vaccines they need. I agree with the catholic school board and the catholic church.

Janeen S.
I am one of the girls who won't be getting that vaccine. I'm outraged. This vaccine is to protect me and the other girls. The school district should trsut that at least some girls will be smart enough to realize this does not give them complete freedom to have sex. It's like they are saying we are sluts...not able to realize that this vaccine only protects us to an extent.

I'm getting that vaccine. I can't believe they wouldn't release it into catholic schools...do they not realize that this is benificail to our future health?!

Anonymous
This is not a School Issue, it's a Personal Issue therefore should be taken out off All schools.

Rosa
I think that the bishop is correct in this matter. Giving this vaccine is like telling our daughters that they are now safe (or have permission) to have sex. My daughter will never get this vaccine. Was I scared of getting AIDS when it came out in the 80's? NO, because I did not sleep around. Did I get the Hep vaccines, yes of coarse I did because I travel internationally outside our safe North American bubble.

Jim Calgary
The opinion of the bishop is a non issue. Most parents should do what is right according to their convictions and medical advice and not be influenced by third party advice.

Lance
I can't believe that so many people still are willing to subject their kids to the dangerous science experiments that are being pushed on them. People need to research both sides of the issue.

Chris
After reading about this vaccine, I am glad that it is not being offered to ten year old girls in the Catholic Schools. According to the information I've read, the vaccine only lasts about five years and then must be administered again. Why on earth would I subject my 9 year old daughter to this at such an early stage when, frankly, there has not been enough testing done to even know what the long-term effects of the vaccine on a pre-pubescent child is? As a parent, I am happy to wait until my daughter is a bit older before I have her vaccinated for HPV - moral issues aside - this is a medical issue - and it's common sense! And, I believe the Board has taken all of this into consideration and I appreciate this.

Ruby - Calgary
I am a married woman in her 30's to one husband. My grandmother from my mom side died of cervical cancer, my mother has cervical tumors, now I am worried about myself and my daughter who might have a higher chance or risk of getting it as well in the future not just from outside factors but also with a family history. If I can prevent my daughter from cervical cancer, I will do so, even though I am a Catholic, but I will not sacrifice my daughter's future for anything else. I have seen family died painfully of cancer; I do not wish that even to my worse enemy but to deny the opportunity for my daughter? I don’t think so!

Bryanne Doyle
It is totally absurd in this day and age to deny our young women a vaccine that could save their lives. The Catholic School Board....whom I support with my taxes....should be ashamed and lower their heads in utter embarassment. This has nothing to do with immoral teaching but rather that of saving lives. Last I checked God did not reside in downtown Calgary.

Thomas Hills
What is really comes down to is this:

If you want to give a vaccine to your child, no matter what it is for, go get one.

Schools are providing the service, but if I was a truly concerned parent, i would consult a doctor and get the shot for my kid.

I am generaly concerned about the public whineing about a lot of stupid things these days. A lot of problems can be solved just by being proactive. This is just a prime example.

Tamara
I find it ignorant that people assume that if this vaccine is given to young girls they're more likely to have sex. How about educate them on it first? The world isn't what it was like 30 years ago. Some children have seen more of the world than their parents. I feel it's a personal choice so if the school doesn't want to offer it, then there should be another outlet

Sheri S.
"HPV / cervical cancer results from promiscuity, not occassional (or single) sexual partners"

Right ... and only drug users and homosexuals get AIDs. I don't know what I was thinking. People really need to educate themselves before they make remarks like this.

HPV is NOT a result of promiscuity. You only have to sleep with one person who has the virus ... just one. And it takes years to rear it's ugly head. For your sake (assuming that her wedding night is her first time) I hope your daughter doesn't marry someone who has the virus. Imagine, years later when she finds out she has cervical cancer during a routine exam ... and is told that the treatment will cause her to lose the child she's carrying ...

Charlotte
I got cervical cancer at an extremely young age without having slept around. I am insulted that people are ignorant enough to think that this is the only way it can be caused. If I could of had this vaccination and saved 2 years of intrusive surgery I would have. I now have a 2 year old daughter (a miracle in itself) and am pleased that this could potentially save her the awful 2 years that I had.

Nadine
I agree with the school board, and parents have been given the information as to where they can obtain this vaccination for free, so if they choose to have their Gr5 daughter vaccinated they can do so.

BTW I'm my daughter is not getting the vaccination because I don't want to play "russian roulette" with her future ability to be able to have heathly kids. There has not been a long term study on this drug and I would never forgive myself if she found out she couldn't have children because of this vaccination. I choose to teach her about heathly safe choices sexually and non-sexually.

Penny
So, one of you know where your local clinics are? The only way they can get the shot is in a school? Get a grip, or do ya just want something to complain about. I havent decided one way or another if my child will be getting this shot. Part of me thinks there has not been enough research on it to know what it can or cannot do. I have read many girls have had convulsions after receiving this shot, and some have had other health issues after this shot. The mother in me thinks she should have it, because I dont want anything to happen down the line. But there is one thing I know for sure, if the Catholic school my child attends decides not to offer this shot, and I decide I want her to have it.....Im fully capable of going to my doctor or a clinic to receive it! Schools don't offer the flu shot, but yet I seem to figure out how to get it every year.

Penny - Lacombe, Alberta
It could be possible to get this shot in a clinic? Really people, I think you just want something to complain about. How about the parents here that want the shot take charge of their childs health and take them to a clinic and get the shot. Why are you wanting the school to be in charge of your childs health? I go get my kids a flu shot every year, and it isn't offered in the school.

Anonymouse
For those who believe that this vaccine is rushed or that there is not enough long-term evidence. I have seen many doctors who treat and diagnose cervical cancer - people who understand HPV, the vaccine, and the risks and benefits involved - quoted as saying that they were among the first in line to have their own daughters vaccinated. Will your skin fall off 25 years after getting this vaccine? Almost certainly not, but it would take 25 years to definitively prove otherwise. While we wait, we can be 100% sure that thousands of Canadian women will die of cervical cancer, and countless others will develop the disease, or will get abnormal pap tests, biopsies, genital warts, etc., etc.

hopeful
I agree with Carleen and John.

Do people understand that there is a risk in taking the vaccine, given the light testing, that should be compared with the risk of HPV that is almost non-existent in 10 year olds?

This is a judgement call, and the decision should rest with the parent.

I want truth from doctors, and a clear indication when there is fact and when there is opinion. All the over the top exaggeration feels like scare mongering. Thank you to the media for showing us how arrogant and paternalistic some of these doctors are.

Why is this vaccine for girls only despite that fact that this is a sexually transmitted vaccine. If they have a new vaccine that is oh so safe, then give it to men. It should work in them too.

The Catholic Board is providing a list of places where the vaccine can be obtained, so why all the hype.

I am hopeful that some day the public board will stop being the conduit for every cause and effort that experts recommend. Bravo to the Catholic Board.