Grade 6 girls are the targets of a new $11 million voluntary immunization program for the Human Papilloma Virus, or HPV.

The provincial government announced details of the plan Thursday, and said it will begin in the new school year starting this fall.

Getting the vaccine will be Shila Sims' nine-year-old daughter.

"The more education they have and the more that can help prevent certain things like that is very helpful," said Sims.

Sims said she's already had a chat about puberty with her daughter, and soon they will have a talk about HPV.

"She's growing up so fast and those are things that you need to worry about, you know?" she said.

Manitoba's Chief Medical Officer of Health said the vaccine counters the leading cause of cervical cancer.

"The vast majority - probably 99 per cent - of cases of cervical cancer are caused by persistent infection from the HPV virus," said Dr. Joel Kettner.

HPV is a sexually transmitted virus, which has some parents reluctant to get the vaccination for their young children, and there has also been debate about the vaccine's long-term effects.

However, Healthy Living Minister Kerri Irvin Ross said it's a move that will save lives, as 15 people die from cervical cancer every year in Manitoba.

"Cervical cancer is also one of the most preventable cancers if it's caught in time," she said.

Provincial Director of Population Oncology at CancerCare Manitoba said the vaccine is safe and effective.

"Now the evidence is really strong that this is a safe vaccine and that it will prevent cervical cancer," said Dr. Donna Turner.

The provincial government said the best way to use the vaccine is by targeting girls in Grade 6 because medical experts say the majority of eleven and twelve-year-old girls haven't had sex.

"Unfortunately if we wait too much longer -- whether parents are ready to face it or not -- that there is an increasing rate of girls starting sexual activity" said Dr. Turner.

The vaccine is administered in three shots over a six-month period. Parents will have to sign a consent form before their daughter will be able to get the vaccine.

Research is underway to determine if the vaccine would work for boys, too.

With a report from CTV's Rachel Lagac�.