The Virginia House of Delegates on Thursday gave preliminary approval to legislation that would eliminate a state requirement that sixth grade girls be vaccinated against the human papillomavirus, or HPV.

Virginia is the only state to mandate the vaccine, meant to prevent cervical cancer, and opponents of the mandate say the decision of whether or not a girl should be vaccinated against HPV should be left to their parents, according to Del. Kathy Byron, R-Lynchburg, the bill’s sponsor.