The Calgary Catholic School Board has voted in favour of making the HPV vaccine available in its schools.

The board had voted against the program in 2008.

Chair Mary Martin said the board learned a lot more about the vaccine since then and consultation with parents shows overwhelming support.

"We value our community consultative process immensely and we recognized that a lot of time had passed in between our initial decision, the decision of the existing board and this board. So we felt that it was important to go back and ask the question again."

The board hopes to get the program underway this school year.

It will work with Alberta Health Services to offer the vaccine to girls in grades five to 12 whose parents provide consent.