Posted on 02/02/2007 1:28:44 PM PST by YCTHouston
AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry ordered today that schoolgirls in Texas must be vaccinated against the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer, making Texas the first state to require the shots.
The girls will have to get Merck & Co.'s new vaccine against strains of the human papillomavirus, or HPV, that are responsible for most cases of cervical cancer.
Merck is bankrolling efforts to pass laws in state legislatures across the country mandating it Gardasil vaccine for girls as young as 11 or 12. It doubled its lobbying budget in Texas and has funneled money through Women in Government, an advocacy group made up of female state legislators around the country.
Details of the order were not immediately available, but the governor's office confirmed to The Associated Press that he was signing the order and he would comment Friday afternoon.
Perry has several ties to Merck and Women in Government. One of the drug company's three lobbyists in Texas is Mike Toomey, his former chief of staff. His current chief of staff's mother-in-law, Texas Republican state Rep. Dianne White Delisi, is a state director for Women in Government.
Toomey was expected to be able to woo conservative legislators concerned about the requirement stepping on parent's rights and about signaling tacit approval of sexual activity to young girls. Delisi, as head of the House public health committee, which likely would have considered legislation filed by a Democratic member, also would have helped ease conservative opposition.
Perry also received $6,000 from Merck's political action committee during his re-election campaign.
It wasn't immediately clear how long the order would last and whether the legislation was still necessary. However it could have been difficult to muster support from lawmakers who champion abstinence education and parents' rights.
Perry, a conservative Christian who opposes abortion rights and stem-cell research using embryonic cells, counts on the religious right for his political base.
But he has said the cervical cancer vaccine is no different than the one that protects children against polio.
"If there are diseases in our society that are going to cost us large amounts of money, it just makes good economic sense, not to mention the health and well being of these individuals to have those vaccines available," he said.
Texas allows parents to opt out of inoculations by filing an affidavit stating that he or she objected to the vaccine for religious or philosophical reasons.
Even with such provisions, however, conservative groups say mandates take away parents' rights to be the primary medical decision maker for their children.
The federal government approved Gardasil in June, and a government advisory panel has recommended that all girls get the shots at 11 and 12, before they are likely to be sexually active.
The New Jersey-based drug company could generate billions in sales if Gardasil — at $360 for the three-shot regimen — were made mandatory across the country. Most insurance companies now cover the vaccine, which has been shown to have no serious side effects.
Merck spokeswoman Janet Skidmore would not say how much the company is spending on lobbyists or how much it has donated to Women in Government. Susan Crosby, the group's president, also declined to specify how much the drug company gave.
A top official from Merck's vaccine division sits on Women in Government's business council, and many of the bills around the country have been introduced by members of Women in Government.
Now don't go bringing common sense into this thread. :)
Texas Administrative Code
Next Rule>>
TITLE 25 HEALTH SERVICES PART 1 DEPARTMENT OF STATE HEALTH SERVICES CHAPTER 97 COMMUNICABLE DISEASES SUBCHAPTER B IMMUNIZATION REQUIREMENTS IN TEXAS ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION RULE §97.62 Exclusions from Compliance
Exclusions from compliance are allowable on an individual basis for medical contraindications, reasons of conscience, including a religious belief, and active duty with the armed forces of the United States. Children and students in these categories must submit evidence for exclusion from compliance as specified in the Health and Safety Code, §161.004(d), Health and Safety Code, §161.0041, Education Code, Chapter 38, Education Code, Chapter 51, and the Human Resources Code, Chapter 42. (1) To claim an exclusion for medical reasons, the child or student must present a statement signed by the child's physician (M.D. or D.O.), duly registered and licensed to practice medicine in the United States who has examined the child, in which it is stated that, in the physician's opinion, the vaccine required is medically contraindicated or poses a significant risk to the health and well-being of the child or any member of the child's household. Unless it is written in the statement that a lifelong condition exists, the exemption statement is valid for only one year from the date signed by the physician.
(2) To claim an exclusion for reasons of conscience, including a religious belief, a signed affidavit must be presented by the child's parent or guardian, stating that the child's parent or guardian declines vaccinations for reasons of conscience, including because of the person's religious beliefs. The affidavit will be valid for a two-year period. The child, who has not received the required immunizations for reasons of conscience, including religious beliefs, may be excluded from school in times of emergency or epidemic declared by the commissioner of public health.
(A) A person claiming exclusion for reasons of conscience, including a religious belief, from a required immunization may only obtain the affidavit form by submitting a written request to the department. The request must include the following:
(i) full name of child;
(ii) child's date of birth (month/day/year);
(B) Written requests must be submitted through the United States Postal Service (or other commercial carrier), by facsimile, or by hand delivery to the department's Bureau of Immunization and Pharmacy Support, 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, Texas 78756.
(C) Upon request, one affidavit form for each child will be mailed unless otherwise specified (shall not exceed a maximum of five forms per child).
(D) The department shall not maintain a record of the names of individuals who request an affidavit and shall return the original request with the forms requested.
(3) To claim an exclusion for armed forces, persons who can prove that they are serving on active duty with the armed forces of the United States are exempted from the requirements in these sections.
Source Note: The provisions of this §97.62 adopted to be effective April 1, 2004, 29 TexReg 3188
You do know the reason for this, don't you. We vaccinate kids who go to school to stop the spread of airborne diseases there.
How many kids do you know that get on the schoolbus in the morning and come home with AIDS? How about herpes? Or genital warts?
If they do, then I'll venture to say that the problem is not a lack of vaccination but rather what they're teaching and allowing the kids to do at school.
"I can understand ordering vaccines for contagious diseases like Measles and Mumps.. but this is going too far. "
Exactly. As I understand it, this is a vaccine for a largely preventable disease. No way should the state force it upon young ladies who are living chaste and moral lives and thus do not need it.
There appears to be no limit to Perry's greed.
Mandating this is waaaaay out of line. Anyone who can justify this kind of intrusion into someone's private life, can justify ANY kind of intrusion. It's not like innoculating against polio or some other highly contagious, easily communicable disease.
This vaccine only works when given to the young, especially before puberty. That is why it must be given to 9-11 year olds.
Doctors say that somewhere between 30 to 50% of all women have this virus. Most boys and men who carry this show no symptoms at all. Ever. But they can and will pass this on.
I am totally for this for personal reasons.
When I was pregnant I was diagnosed with Cervical cancer. It was advanced-I had always had tests, but it was undiagnosed or mis diagnosed until then. I had a c section then a radical hysterectomy one after another. I spent 6 days in the hospital and the last 3 years in treatment. Instead of spending time with my new baby (the only one I will ever have) I spent it with my head in a toilet puking my guts out and losing all my hair. I may die. Odds are not in my favor. If I could have had that vaccine this may not have happened. My son may have had a mother when he gets older. My husband may have had me longer. Who knows. A vaccine may not have helped me, but I will never know that, and I wish I could have had a way to possibly stop this from afflicting me and my family. A vaccine will not make a 9 year old have sex. That is ridiculous. But a vaccine may keep a family together years later. The very minute this is approved for boys my son is getting this. If I can keep him from getting sick or passing this on to someone else I will. This isn't like measles or mumps. It's far far worse.
Your state is next. My state is next. Every other state is on the list. They'll have to do it by legislation in most, but know for certain that it is coming. Call your legislators now and an alert them.
Yesterday was the "Republican" who wanted to fine parents of public schools for not going to parent-teacher mettings. What happend to the Republic of Texas?
Ordered? What happened to freedom to choose?
That's not a choice on the table at the moment.
Even illegals must be treated under federal law.
Vaccinating is far cheaper than treating the disease being prevented. It's coming out of your wallet, either way.
That's quite an accusation. So they're liars. You have any evidence to back that up?
What are the effects of the virus on boys? Does it make sense to vaccinate all if it only has bad effects on 50% who are readlily identifiable?
Just as long as it's a choice. Period.
Just as long as it's a choice. Period.
God bless you and thank you for your post. I will be praying for you, and I do hope others will actually read your post and reconsider their kneejerk reactions.
So what it really gets down to for you is the money. You can justify forcing people to live by your values and decisions on what they must and must not do because you just see $$$$$ signs? Stay out of my private life.
You do, but you gotta fill out an onerous legal affadavit requesting permission from the state government to grant you "conscientious objector" status.
Perry placed the burden of getting an exemption entirely on the parent. It should be the other way around.
Also I'm generally against anything that creates government databases other than crime records, voter registration, and driver's licenses. A state controlled "conscientious objector" list is never a good thing.
lqclamar, leave Dog alone. He can't help himself. He's Perry's primary apologist, probably on the payroll. Check him out on the Trans Texas Corridor threads.
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