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.
California, one of the most liberal states in the Union and a state that loves nanny-state legislation does not mandate vaccinations for HPV.
SB 158 Would require health care service plans and health insurance policies that include coverage for the treatment of cervical cancer to also provide coverage for human papillomavirus vaccination. (Passed Senate and Assembly; VETOED BY GOVERNOR 10/11/09)
Im not a Perry supporter they all are fine with me except Ron Paul, and after Perry comes Romney so the argument about “same old crap” ain’t working.
I like Romney well enough but certainly he is the “same old crap” more than Perry.
Abortion negates the sovereignty an unborn child, an individual, has over himself. Suicide implies ownership of the body, as does slavery. Sovereignty over the body and ownership of it are two different things.
That depends on what definition of 'hissy fit' you rely. Perry certainly did not like it that his EO was overturned and he was far from going along happily with it.
In short order, the Legislature overwhelmingly overturned the decree. Acknowledging he did not have the votes to sustain a veto of the legislation, Perry announced he would allow it to become law without his signature. But he sharply criticized the Legislature.
"In the next year, more than a thousand women will likely be diagnosed with this insidious yet mostly preventable disease," Perry said at a May 9, 2007, news conference, surrounded by women who had been affected by HPV, including one who he said had been infected by a rapist. "I challenge legislators to look these women in the eyes and tell them, 'We could have prevented this disease for your daughters and granddaughters, but we just didn't have the gumption to address all the misguided and misleading political rhetoric.'"
Until now, Perry never yielded to opponents who said he should have handled the issue differently rather than through a unilateral executive order. U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison tried to make it an issue in her gubernatorial campaign to unseat him in 2010. In a January 2010 debate, Perry defended his decision to issue the executive order. It was not a mistake — “no sir, not from my position,” he said. “I stand proudly by my pro-life position.”
Not a mistake? Then why does he now say it was?
“I made a mistake on that,” Perry told Iowa Radio later in the day Monday, calling it “an error in not having a conversation with the people of the state of Texas.”
Excellent!
I can see why it was considered. The vaccine had extensive trials and was considered effective and safe.
We all know Romney's a turd...it's just that Perry's new to the party and everyone needs to know he's a turd also.
I remember the good ole days when only Nancy Pelosi used that term. Unfortunately, the democrats won both houses after repeating "Crony Capitalism" over and over.
NO American could ever accuse THEM of Crony Capitalism. There's not a drop of Capitalism in their blood. So... good luck.
Should have stuck with immigration. ONLY republicans can be crony Capitalists (ALL OF THEM!) In the view of those who watch the MSM and we need their vote in Nov 2012.
STDs that cause genital warts can cause cervical cancer. It is all related.
A lot of things CAN cause cancer.
The response against it was emotional.
Not many of the present members of the Texas delegation are life-long Republicans.
Well, the debate over Romney on FR is pretty much over - he's beyond worthless. Any post of his most recent idiocy simply further confirms such, rather than needing to make the case that he is such.
So folks are vetting the other candidates quite vigorously. Happens every four years. Hopefully people can stick to factual stuff and vet the criticisms as well as the candidates.
I think so.
I do see the issue of requiring insurance companies to pay for it infringing on them, but someone mentioned Polio Vaccines and I believe those are required and built into the premiums. The whole issue seems to be a knee jerk reaction by those pushing another candidate, or potential candidate.
I'm more interested in how Perry responds to the Social Security lovers who think it's in great shape. If Perry can offer a good solution to fixing it he's going to win the nomination running away.
What is this person referring to then?
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.
I agree. Everyone knew this before Perry announced..he said it was a mistake. My grandaughter got the shot voluntarily and she lives in MO...I am glad she did...every shot/vaccine may have a risk but the risk of the disease is far worse. IMO Bachmann took a cheap shot at Perry insinuating he was bought off by Merck during his campaign. Then she went on Greta and continued her rant. It is one thing to disagree and even point out mistakes or concerns..it is another to try and destroy a good man. The onslaught of attacks by Romney and Bachmann are side tracking the important issues. I want to know what they are going to do about the economy, Obamacare, the UN!
Apparently that’s the problem. The Republican party doesn’t have a platform that they require candidates to stick to anymore. So anyone can be a republican and no one has to vote guided by the platform.
It’s the tired old mantra , ‘he’s the only one electable!’ Well he is,because the democrats will all vote for him because he still acts like one!
Who would have thought in a free country that a vaccine for sexually transmitted disease would be mandated by a governor, by executive order on INNOCENT girls? It’s despicable. Really.
I shudder to think why any politician wants children to be vaccinated against sexually transmitted diseases. When did ‘child’ become synonymous with sexual?
“NRO (RINO Central) FOR PerryCARE and RomneyCARE!!!”
Sad.
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