Banning Child Cancer Safety Measures

"Although school-based immunization delivery systems generally result in high numbers of students completing immunization, a school-based approach to vaccination sends a message that early sexual intercourse is allowed, as long as one uses 'protection'..."

That interpretation of the various levels of government within the provinces, allied with school boards, to provide free immunization protocols for young girls between Grades 5 and 9 to protect them from cervical cancer, was sent out by officiating Catholic bishops to families of students in the Catholic school board.

The human papillomavirus vaccine that prevents the four strains of the sexually transmitted virus that most commonly lead to deadly cervical cancer is seen to be a positive solution to a socially serious risk of contracting a dread disease.  In their medical wisdom scientists and health professionals have come to an agreement that attacking the problem head on to protect young girls from the potential of contracting human papillomavirus represents a public good.

Years ago, the controversy over the need to proceed with these vaccinations appeared to be settled when Ottawa provided a grant to enable school-aged girls to receive free vaccinations at school.  Other provinces decided to take the same protective route as Ontario.  In Alberta the Catholic School Board, guided by area bishops, have balked at taking this step.

A professor of pediatrics and a bioethicist with the University of Calgary explained that HPV Calgary attempted to make available to the  Catholic School Board, the latest evidence in support of the vaccine.  That overture was spectacularly unsuccessful.  "If you are an immigrant, if you are not so affluent, if you don't have a car, if you're very dependent on an hourly wage, it is very unlikely that you'll get immunization", said Dr. Ian Mitchell.

"So we saw this decision by the Catholic School Board as affecting all children, but really affecting the most vulnerable children."  Bishop Frederick Henry of Calgary, along with other Alberta bishops, have raised an effective resistance to immunization.  Catholic school students were given a copy of a letter from the six bishops advising their parents to protect their children from "counterproductive influences and potential abuse".

In contrast, the Edmonton Catholic board permitted the girls attending their schools to be vaccinated, and close to 70% of the girls accepted the opportunity to arm themselves against HPV.  The issue of promiscuity following immunization has been effectively put to rest by studies that find no correlation between the HPV vaccine and a growing incidence of casual sex.