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.
Some people also don't realise that improvements in hygiene can also cut down the risk of communicable diseases and that some of the improvement in those was a result of that, not just the shots.
But I guess some people also think that forcing me to do something is acceptable; all for my own good , of course (since they somehow know better than me what that is)
Just as long as it's a choice. Period.
If vaccinating half the population will prevent it, why vaccinate the entire population for no additional benefit, but at twice the cost?
I'm sorry about your nephew, but I'm also sorry about BigRed1 at post 148.
Vaccinations save lives. There are occasional bad reactions and even deaths that result from them. I think it's pretty much a given that this vaccination will save lives overall.
Holy cats. Is that NAMBLA propaganda?
No one is forcing you to drive on tollways or get a vaccination.
Calling people who want to make the decision about what chemicals are injected into their children "idiots" is reprehensible.
I'm not sure that's true, because everyone eventually dies from something, and cigarettes are taxed out the wazoo. Cervical cancer kills productive women much earlier than smoking kills most its victims.
Is it? It's been around long enough to have that kind of track record? They're working on speculation here. IF the virus is implicated in the cancer, then theoretically, stopping the virus should stop the cancer, but the numbers aren't in yet.
Ouch! Thanks for the info.
Ouch! Thanks for the info.
the opt-out rate on this thing is going to be enormous.
and I will also predict - that 10+ years from now, the trial lawyers are going to make some health related link to this, and the lawsuits are going to be massive.
Merck doesn't make any money off of abstinence :(
Perry doesn't get any of that sweet Pharma lobbyist cash from absitnence, either.
Chemicals?
Vaccines are "chemicals" to you?
Do what you want with your children. Don't give them the available protection against disease. Nobody is forcing you to do so.
Don't expect me to respect your decision, because I don't.
IF vaccinating half the population worked, that argument MIGHT make sense but what vaccine or disease, is out there that only vaccinating half the population is effective? It might make sense or work if ALL the girls were vaccinated and the boys didn't spread it around among themselves.
But why just the girls? Since boys can spread it, why not have just the boys vaccinated? Or just vaccinate half the girls and half the boys at random. It would make as much sense.
ping
If the vaccination, which has been clinically-approved, kills 400 school children a year, then it's break even.
Realistically, if the vaccine kills two school children, it will be recalled.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.