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Only 19% of Catholic Students in Calgary Receive Controversial HPV Vaccine

Calgary Bishop Fred Henry and other Alberta bishops have outspokenly opposed the vaccine

 By John Jalsevac

CALGARY, AB, January 8, 2009 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Health officials in Calgary are concerned that less than 20% (18.9%) of grade five students at Calgary Catholic schools have received the controversial HPV vaccine. This is in contrast to the approximately 70% of public schools students who have so far received the shot.

The disparity in numbers, however, does not come as a surprise, given that the public school system offered the vaccine in its schools, whereas the Calgary Catholic school board opted out of the school-based program, citing moral and safety concerns. Students at Catholic schools were instead given the option of going to free public clinics for the shot.

“It's low," said Dr. Judy Mac-Donald, deputy medical officer of health for Calgary, about the turnout. "We know the best way for students (to be vaccinated) is to offer it through a school-based program. This reflects the fact that it's hard to reach a population outside of schools."

The Calgary vaccination program is part of a nationwide program to vaccinate women and girls between the ages of 9 and 26. In 2007 the federal government pledged $300 million towards the project.

However, the Calgary Catholic school system, in conjunction with Calgary Bishop Fred Henry and all the Alberta bishops, strenuously opposed offering the vaccine in its schools.

At the time that the school board voted against permitting the HPV vaccination program in schools, St. Thomas Aquinas board chair Sandra Bannard explained the board’s concerns: "When a school board or anyone else allows something to go on in their schools, it's almost seen as an endorsement. They just didn't want to go down that road, and thought it was more appropriate that this be a parental choice and families decide what's best to do for their daughters."

The Alberta bishops have pointed out that HPV is a sexually transmitted disease, and that vaccinating young girls sends the wrong message about sexual behavior. "Catholic teaching is that sexuality is a God-given gift that should be reserved for marriage," the bishops wrote in June in a letter sent to parents.

“Outside of marriage, abstinence is not only clearly the choice that leads to spiritual and moral well-being, but it is obviously the best protection against risks of disease.”

The bishops expressed concern that, “A school-based approach to vaccination sends a message that early sexual intercourse is allowed, as long as one uses ‘protection.’”

Critics of the project have said that, rather than spending hundreds of millions of dollars on vaccinations, children should instead be encouraged to remain sexually abstinent, thus practically eliminating concerns about contracting HPV and cervical cancer, to which HPV has been linked.

In voting against allowing the vaccination program in its schools, trustees with the Calgary Catholic School District and St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Board near Edmonton, also cited safety concerns.

In July of last year the public interest group Judicial Watch obtained more than 8,000 reports of adverse events in girls and young women after they were injected with the HPV vaccine Gardasil; these included wart outbreaks, seizures, paralysis and death.
A spokesman for the Catholic school board, Marge Belcourt, recently told CBCnews that the board stands by its decision to leave the choice in the hands of parents. “Most parents, if they think it's something their child needs or wants, they'll walk over hot coals to make sure their child gets it," she said.

See related LifeSiteNews.com coverage:

Re-establish Healthy Sexual Mores to Fight STD’s - Calgary Bishop
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/feb/07022009.html

Alberta Bishops Take Action against HPV Vaccination Campaign in Schools
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jun/08062405.html

Calgary Bishop Confronts Alberta Health Minister For Criticizing School Board's Rejection of STD Vaccine
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/sep/08093008.html

Ontario Catholic School Board Rejects HPV Vaccine on School Premises
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2007/oct/07101806.html

School Board Official Changes Mind - Now Opposes HPV Vaccine in Schools
http://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2008/jun/08060305.html

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