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.