Alberta's health minister issued some stern words to Catholic school trustees and Bishop Fred Henry.
Ron Liepert says they will have to live with their decision not to endorse the HPV vaccine.
The province is weeks away from offering the vaccine to all Grade 5 girls in Alberta.
Liepert says the Catholic School Board should be treating the HPV vaccination as a serious health issue.
"It is a safe vaccine and I would encourage those parents within the Catholic school system to contact their trustees," said Liepert.
HPV vaccine stops 70 per cent of cervical cancers and prevents other sexually transmitted diseases.
Catholic school trustee Mary Martin calls the Health Minister's comments unfortunate.
"Again, the decision made by the board is not a surprise to many people. People do take their direction from the Bishop and again we place responsibility for children with their parents,"
Liepert says the board is failing to recognize the benefits of the vaccine, ignoring the fact that it can save lives.
"It is a proven fact, some forty women this year will die of cervical cancer and so I think the Catholic school trustees and Fred Henry need to take those things into account,"
Martin says Catholic board trustees are willing to discuss the issue with the Minister, as long as he understands that the decision was directed by the Bishop.
Opting out of issuing the HPV vaccine could affect up to 17-hundred girls in 83 Catholic schools in Calgary.
