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.
...yeah, while the government forces 11 year olds to get vaccinated for genital warts.
"Where, in the Texas Constitution, does Perry derive this authority from.?"
You realize, don't you, that the Texas Constitution rivals the federal tax code in length and indecipherability.
Indecipherability. Is that a word? You get my drift. The Texas constitution is a magnificent mess. That's why we have to vote on constitutional amendments every general election.
Here is the latest Rocky Mountain News coverage on this story in Colorado.
Cancer vaccine takes heavy shots
Opponents decry bill making immunization mandatory for girls
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/government/article/0,2777,DRMN_23906_5319713,00.html
Why just the girls? If HPV can be spread by males too, spread to females, why not vaccinate them too? The males can spread it to unvaccinated females.
Then you'd keep male-to-male transmission low, too!
I am so lucky. I have had several emergency room visits, and have requested the tetanus-only shot for my children. The ER doctors COULD have given me trouble, but one even said that they thought I was making a good decision not vaccinating.
I wasn't able to use my regular pediatrician for my youngest until now (She's 4), because I wouldn't be forced into "well baby" checkups(ie vaccination advertisements).
The vaccine works to cause immunity against 4 viruses:
The problem is not the "warts." The viruses that cause the big ugly viruses don't cause pre-cancerous changes and cancer. It's the ones that don't make big masses that cause the trouble.
The Gardasil patient information is available at:
http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/living/travel/16469716.htm
"HPV also causes genital warts (condyloma acuminata) which are growths of the cervicovaginal,
vulvar, and the external genitalia that rarely progress to cancer. HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18 are common HPV
types.
HPV 16 and 18 cause approximately:
70% of cervical cancer, AIS, CIN 3, VIN 2/3, and VaIN 2/3 cases; and
50% of CIN 2 cases.
HPV 6, 11, 16, and 18 cause approximately:
35 to 50% of all CIN 1, VIN 1, and VaIN 1 cases; and
90% of genital wart cases."
The drug treats genital warts, hence the reference to STDs. From your sister's problems, you know as well as anyone that cervical cancer is not caused 100% by the STD, which is why Rick Perry's rationale for this order is such a stretch.
Have you seen this article:
Parachute use to prevent death and major trauma related to gravitational challenge: systematic review of randomised controlled trials.
And then, on their wedding night, they catch it from their new mate. 3 years later, they're getting laser or freezing. Then the girls get to have a premature baby or two.
Read what the docs at Christian Medical and Dental Association are saying:
http://cmda.org/index.cgi?cat=100115&art=3241&BISKIT=3585781921&CONTEXT=art
CAn someone tell me when we are going to start the recall election. Gov. Zoolander needs to be recalled as soon as possible
OK, so why should this be mandated then? Offered? Yes. Required? No.
I too want proof in 20 years. Look at the autism out break. When i was a child it was 100,000-1 now its 105-1. Furthermore therisol build-up is the culprit. They mandate shots for things like chiken pox...Most people have chicken pox, you don't die from it why vaccinate against it.
This type stuff makes me nuts.
Which is why they should consider getting the vaccine when they are mature adults (or, alternatively, get the fiance tested for it) sometime before the wedding IF THEY SO CHOOSE.
And I frankly don't care what an allegedly Christian medical group is saying about it. I care what conservatives are saying, what pro life groups are saying (http://www.lifesite.net/ldn/2007/feb/07020204.html), and what common sense says about the distinction between right and wrong. UNNECESSARY forced STD vaccination of 9 year olds is fundamentally immoral and unchristian, regardless of how saintly you may think this Perry bozo is.
It is not going to *wipe out cancer*. It's supposed to prevent some cases of a certain type of cancer.
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