Perry orders anti-cancer vaccine for schoolgirls

Houston Chronicle/AP ^ | Feb. 2, 2007 | LIZ AUSTIN PETERSON

[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.

[retMD]

I'd say inaccuracies both ways. Gardasil isn't 100% effective at preventing cervical cancer, since about 30% of cervical cancer isn't related to the HPV virus. It's darn close to 100% for preventing HPV-related cervical cancer, which might be what you meant.

On the other side, measles and rubella can be fatal for healthy children. The statistics on the CDC site is that mortality for measles is one out of 1000. For rubella, while it isn't usually fatal for children, children spread it to pregnant women. The virus then causes heart defects, deafness and mental retardation in their babies.

Protecting children from all diseases is thought to promote the development of allergies - the "hygiene hypothesis." No doctor I know of or have heard of recommends exposing children to measles, mumps or rubella to avoid this, however. Older siblings, pets, and colds are a better choice.

[JeffAtlanta]

I simply object to the government requiring school children to take it.

For the last time, the government isn't forcing anyone to take it. Any parent can opt out. And you accuse me of constructing a strawman?

[khnyny]

Sorry, but I don't believe you, newbie.

[metmom]

One of the things I got to thinking about this was that it's been posted on this thread in a couple places that the vaccine needs to be repeated about every 5 years because it's not effective any longer than that.

So thinking that through, if that's the case, that means that every five years for the rest of her life, that woman needs to have this vaccination to protect her. And if she misses it, she's susceptible to the virus and therefore capable of spreading it.

Now, what's the point in making it mandatory for 10-11 year old girls get it if it's effectiveness is gone just about the time most of them are starting to become sexually active? Shouldn't they then make it mandatory for all 15-16 year olds, too? And then for 20-21 year olds who are even more likely to be sexually active,.. and so on, and so forth,... So what's the point of making it mandatory for that age only and not all the other ages?

So then, are they now in a position of having to make it mandatory for all women of all ages? And how would this be tracked? And how would it be enforced?

Nice little money maker for Merck, producing a vaccine that needs to be repeated so often for the rest of someone's life.

As an aside, pneumonia kills more people a year than cervical cancer and yet we don't see anyone mandating the pneumonia vaccine. As a matter of fact, the doctors I've talked to won't give it to prevent pneumonia until you've had it at least once. What's the point of giving a vaccine AFTER the disease has struck and lung damage has occurred not to mention that pneumonia can progress pretty quickly and kill someone in a matter of hours to days.? I thought the idea of a vaccine was to prevent you from getting it in the first place.

[getmeouttaPalmBeachCounty_FL]

There once was a day when McCain was sane. Whatever hit McCain has now bonked Perry in the noggin. Unbelievable.

[Alter Kaker]

The exact same thing could be said about AIDS, herpes, or any other STD if the other person has it. But that's a non-issue.

No it isn't, because HPV is much more widespread in the general population than any of those diseases, and since it is generally asymptomatic, the vast majority of people affected don't know it.

The answer is to teach children basic morality and thus significantly reduce their risk of ever coming into contact with one of these horrible diseases.

What does "basic morality" mean with a virus this widespread? Does basic morality involve only marrying a virgin?

[lqclamar]

For the last time, the government isn't forcing anyone to take it. Any parent can opt out.

For the last time, that simply isn't an accurate portrayal of the situation. The "opt out" procedure isn't the same as simply saying no. It burdens parents with the requirement of applying by affadavit to be listed as a "conscientious objector" pending government approval.

And even if you don't consider that process excessive, there is also a long track record in this country of busybody liberal bureacrats at Child Services using "conscientious objector" applications as evidence to snatch kids into foster care. There are also left wing busybody legislators who file bills every year trying to change the "opt out" form from a one time thing to an annual process that must be completed over and over and over again.

[khnyny]

I don't see any "errors" in CP's post. What part of "mandatory" don't you understand?

BTW, when a major drug company falsifies their research and manufactures a drug which kills a certain percentage of it's consumers and which is later pulled from the market, don't expect them to get a free pass from anyone.

[Alter Kaker]

Gardasil isn't 100% effective at preventing cervical cancer, since about 30% of cervical cancer isn't related to the HPV virus.

Not quite true. Well over 90% of cervical cancer cases are caused by one of a number of HPV strains. Gardasil protects against the two strains most commonly associated with cervical cancer (along with two other strains associated with genital warts), and it's those two common strains that account for about 70% of cervical cancer cases. That means 20%+ of remaining cases are caused by a variety of rarer HPV strains that Gardasil doesn't target.

[lqclamar]

No it isn't, because HPV is much more widespread in the general population

I've seen claims on this thread alone ranging from 30-80% exposure. What I haven't seen is hard scientific evidence of those claims in the form of a representative statistical sample out of the population.

and since it is generally asymptomatic

Genital warts - one of the most common types of HPV - is anything but asymptomatic.

What does "basic morality" mean with a virus this widespread?

I'm still waiting for the proof that it's as widespread as many people are claiming. Given how rare cervical cancer is (less than 10,000 cases in the entire U.S. last year), either HPV's incidence or its tendency to induce cervical cancer is being SEVERELY overstated.

[metmom]

And even if you don't consider that process excessive, there is also a long track record in this country of busybody liberal bureacrats at Child Services using "conscientious objector" applications as evidence to snatch kids into foster care.

And that'll simply fall under the child abuse label, or negligence (in providing for the child's health, according to some), or endangering the welfare of a child. There's lots of ways social services can get you. If someone doesn't believe it, they can talk to or read up on all the homeschool pioneers who had their kids put in foster care with those charges, for simply homeschooling their children. Social services has done it for less.

[metmom]

Have you ever tried taking a child to the doctor or enrolling them in school and trying to opt out of a vaccination?

[khnyny]

I agree. The numbers (and facts) don't add up. IMHO, it's not so much about health, although I do believe a lot of good people may think so.

As I stated in an earlier post, the incidence of cervical cancer is the highest in third world countries, basically because women in third world countries do not receive regular pap smears and HPV testing. So, why not market and make vaccinations mandatory for this wonder vaccine in third world countries where the incidence of cervical cancer is so much higher than the US?

$$$$$

Perhaps Merck is scrambling in anticipation of those hefty Vioxx verdicts.

[stentorian conservative]

Boy I sure have. It's like Insta-criminal. Just add water. I've gotten a similar ,albeit not as bad, treatment for not wanting to provide my social security number.

They don't like anyone to question their reason or authority. THEY know what's best for your child in any given situation. In this case THEY are Merck and Perry.

BTW, the vaccine I was protesting was the Varicella vaccine. My Son had already had the chicken pox. I saw no need. I was given an expulsion notice. This is a perfect example of "the system" knowing better than I about my children.

[retMD]

Go back to the first post by CP that I answered and you'll find them.

[retMD]

Thanks. I took the 70% figure from a fact sheet aimed at the general public. Shame on me - I didn't dig for the details!

[JeffAtlanta]

Genital warts - one of the most common types of HPV - is anything but asymptomatic.

Geesh, how would a girl that is a virgin and chooses to remain one until marriage inspect her finance for genital warts?

In any event, genital warts can be treated and they go away. The virus doesn't but the warts do.

[freemike]

Where would we ever be without the ever loving watchful eye and caring hand of our friendly state officials? They know so much more than we. They are so much smarter, wiser, caring,,, they only eat perfect foods, and drink the finest water. Their clothes are knit with the finest gold by little angels sent from God. When they pass by in their special SUV's, birds sing and butterflies flutter. The clouds part and the sun rays shine down upon their faces as they speak their commands! I can barely look upon them as they speak,, I know how unworthy I am,, I feel so ashamed in my simple minded ways!

[metmom]

Tell me about it.

My kids all had chicken pox. When it came time to enroll them in high school, they would have been required to have the vaccine anyway if I couldn't have provided medical proof that they had it; that meant a doctor's eyewitness diagnosis. Believe it of not, chicken pox scars don't count.

[metmom]

ROTFLMBO!!!!

Meanwhile the rest of us great unwashed masses can only gaze on in rapt wonder and awe.