Tensions over public HPV vaccination programming in Belize’s church-run educational institutions have spurred the country’s Minister of Health and Wellness, Kevin Bernard, to issue a public appeal to the Catholic Church to abandon its long-held resistance to the life-saving vaccine. The call comes after Bernard received an official letter outlining the church’s continued opposition from Father Jordan, a church leader whom Bernard describes as a personal friend, amid growing friction around vaccination rollout in faith-based campuses.
In countering the core concerns raised by church leadership, Bernard has emphasized that the Ministry of Health adheres to strict, transparent protocols for all school-based vaccination campaigns. Contrary to circulating misinformation that has fueled the church’s opposition, all programs require explicit, prior parental consent before any adolescent receives the vaccine, and every rollout is paired with accessible, evidence-based public education to inform students and caregivers about the shot’s purpose and safety.
Bernard stressed that the HPV vaccine’s sole public health mission is to protect young women and girls from developing cervical cancer later in life, rejecting claims that the vaccine promotes early or risky sexual behavior. “It’s about prevention. It’s not about promoting any form of promiscuity,” Bernard stated in a public address. “I want to make that appeal to the churches, and especially our Catholic faith community here in Belize, for them to reconsider their position.”
The minister also highlighted the decades-long collaborative relationship between public health teams and Catholic school administrators, noting that the Ministry of Health has long delivered routine vaccination services on these campuses without conflict. Since 2016, the ministry has successfully administered the HPV vaccine to more than 46,000 Standard Four students across Belize, many of whom attend church-run schools. Bernard extended a direct public appeal to Father Jordan to reverse the church’s current stance and resume collaborative work with the ministry to expand access to the preventive care.
“Our ministry has a responsibility for the health of our nation,” Bernard added. “We are going to continue to ensure that we can promote and provide these essential vaccines, especially for young girls and young children that need these shots. At the end of the day, this work is about protecting the health and wellbeing of all Belizean citizens.”