Posted on 09/13/2011 2:48:19 PM PDT by neverdem
More than an hour into last night’s debate, Rep. Michele Bachmann attacked Gov. Rick Perry on the HPV vaccination controversy — or more accurately pseudo-controversy. It stems from an executive order issued by Perry in 2007 that required all Texas girls to receive Gardasil, a vaccine against the most common strains of human papilloma virus, before entering the sixth grade. However, Texas lawmakers blocked that mandate. Some critics argued that the vaccine was too new to have been confirmed safe, while others said that Perry’s order would preempt parental rights or give girls a false sense of security, possibly causing them to become sexually active at a young age.
Bachmann alluded to the Perry’s executive order mandating the exposure of young girls to a “dangerous” vaccine and tried to distinguish Gardasil from other required pediatric vaccines that prevent infectious diseases. Note to Bachmann: The vaccine, Merck’s Gardasil, prevents infection with the most common strains of human papilloma virus. Once established, these viruses can ultimately cause genital warts as well as cervical, anal, vulvar, and vaginal cancers. Thus, by preventing the infection, the vaccine prevents all those sequelae.
In the extensive clinical studies (on more than 20,000 girls and women) that were performed prior to the FDA’s licensing of the vaccine, the vaccine was 100 per cent effective, a virtually unprecedented result. How safe is the vaccine? No serious side effects were detected; the most common side effect is soreness, redness and swelling in the arm at the site of the injection.
In summary, Gardasil has one of the most favorable risk-benefit ratios of any pharmaceutical.
Having spent 15 years at the FDA and having seen regulation — the good, the bad and the ugly — up close, I am as opposed to anyone (exceptperhaps Ron Paul) to non-essential government intrusion into our lives. But some interventions are good. Among those I would include vaccination against childhood diseases and compulsory use of seat belts and motorcycle helmets.
I am discouraged by politicians who not only don’t know much about science, technology, or medicine (which is perhaps understandable) but also don’t know what they don’t know (which is unacceptable).
Here’s my advice to the presidential hopefuls: If you’re not sure of the facts, keep quiet.
— Henry I. Miller, M.D., is Robert Wesson Fellow in Scientific Philosophy & Public Policy Hoover Institution.
Abstinence offers 100% protection against the same diseases. Why isn’t this a option to parents of six-year old? Merck, like all other drug companies are not obliged to publish negative or adverse events of a given clinical trial. They can keep tweaking the statistics and design of the study to get the results they want. “Extensive clinical studies” are not what they seem.
Abstinence offers 100% protection against the same diseases. Why isn’t this a option to parents of six-year old? Merck, like all other drug companies are not obliged to publish negative or adverse events of a given clinical trial. They can keep tweaking the statistics and design of the study to get the results they want. “Extensive clinical studies” are not what they seem.
Yep, perhaps Dr. Miller is more Tory than Classical Liberal in his outlook. Being ‘conservative’ can be confusing.
Perry listened to his former Chief of Staff.
One of Merck’s three lobbyists in Texas is Mike Toomey, his former chief of staff. That is why he mandated it.
I defy you to come up with a detailed definition of RINO that even most Republicans would agree with.
(Of course, anyone who disagreed with your definition is likely a RINO)
I don’t know why no one is talking about what he actually said. He wanted to force insurance companies to pay for it. He admitted that outright. Of course, I suspect most of the public would applaud that anyway. Most people hate insurance companies, banks and rich people.
I don’t know why the trans texas corridor is not being discussed at all.
Sadly many bought into the ‘Health Insurance Companies evil’ and ‘Health Insurance Companies make immense profits’talking points from Big Media. Whenever my Leftist relatives launch into that tirade I tell them that the profit margin was actually 1-2%. They never have a comeback.
Thus abortion and suicide are ok.
I don’t know why the 1000000000000000 things Romney has done that are liberal are not being discussed!
I find even the suggestion that Romney is more conservative than Perry beyond laughable, and yet NO ONE is attacking Romney!
where are all the 10000000000000000 anti Romney threads? why does Romney seem to be getting a pass?
I knew at the time that this would later come back to bite ol’ Rick on the behind.
Not the topic of this thread but I agree that our National Transportation system needs some attention and a plan to develop the system out for the next 50 years. That's what the TTC was trying to do for Texas and currently it is still a piecemeal process in Texas at best. President Eisenhower would have never gotten the Interstate System off the ground in today's environment it seems.
I thought she did great. She was tough which scares people. I know that you don’t want Perry to have to answer questions but he must. In 2008, he would have been laughed out of the room for daring to run for President. He caters to illegals. That is my serious problem. He says giving tuition welfare is the American Way. You guys are so unbelievable that I can’t believe it. We have a once in a lifetime to pick a real conservative......Michele Bachmann and you guys are blinded by Perry for some reason. The one issue that nobody cares about is Obamacare. Michele has said over and over again that if it is not stopped in the first year of the new President, it will be implemented in 2014. That alone should scare people. She is very passionate about this issue and believe she would stop it. Would Romney? No way. Would Perry? No way. Bachmann would. She is the best on this particular issue.
No thanks to Perry:
___
"When both the House and Senate repealed the (vaccination) law six weeks later, Perry did not — as he now claims — listen humbly or “agree with their decision.”Human shield demagoguery. In response to the legislature’s rebuke, the infuriated governor attacked those who supported repeal as “shameful” spreaders of “misinformation” who were putting “women’s lives” at risk. Borrowing a tried-and-true Alinskyite page from the progressive left, Perry surrounded himself with female cervical cancer victims and deflected criticism of his imperial tactics with emotional anecdotes.
He then lionized himself and the minority of politicians who voted against repeal of his Gardasil order. “They will never have to think twice about whether they did the right thing. No lost lives will occupy the confines of their conscience, sacrificed on the altar of political expediency.” Perry, of course, has now put his own ghastly Gardasil order on that same altar — but with no apology to all those he demonized and exploited along the way."
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2777761/posts
Maybe the other candidates think it is a non issue because there are people who thought it was a good idea. I liked the idea of building a road that Texas sorely needs without raising my taxes. I am sorry it was scrapped. Now the TTC is history and we still have I-35 which is simply inadequate. We still need a new road to supplement/replace it. I wonder how much it will cost me in tax increases when it is finally built?
Just say no to polio vaccines!!
You should start those Romney threads.
The problem is that Perry won’t state that he was wrong.
I take that to mean that he will do it again, given the chance.
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