The effort by Alberta Health to vaccinate girls against HPV got an opposition from Catholic School boards. $300 million Alberta Health project received a serious set back when the Catholic Board trustees remarked that the vaccination would not be permitted in their schools as the project implicitly gives permission to have sex for underage girls.

The Government plans to inoculate all Grade 5 girls in the province. The vaccine would protect them against four strains of the HPV which is estimated to cause 70 per cent of cervical cancers and 90 per cent of genital warts.

Health Minister Ron Liepert blamed Calgary Catholic Bishop Fred Henry, who, along with other bishops, has alleged that the vaccine sends a message that early sexual intercourse is allowed.

"I think Catholic school trustees and Fred Henry need to answer to the parents as to why they made this decision to put young girls at risk," Liepert said.

He added "We have offered free of charge to all Grade 5 girls across the province this vaccine. The vaccine is proven to be safe. It is a proven fact that some 40 women (in Alberta) will die this year of cervical cancer and I think the Catholic school trustees and Fred Henry need to take those things into account and I would quite frankly encourage the parents of school children in the Catholic system to contact their trustees and let them know what they think."