Texas Gov. urged against cancer order

Yahoo News ^ | 2/5/2007 | Liz Peterson, AP

[mngran]

AUSTIN, Texas - Several key Republicans urged Gov. Rick Perry on Monday to rescind his executive order making Texas the first state to require girls to be vaccinated against the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer.

Lawmakers should have been allowed to hear from doctors, scientists and patients before the state implemented such a sweeping mandate, said state Sen. Jane Nelson, chairwoman of the health and human services committee.

"This is not an emergency," said Nelson, adding that she plans to ask Attorney General Greg Abbott for an opinion on the legality of Perry's order. "It needs to be discussed and debated."

Three other Republican lawmakers filed bills that would override the mandate, and several others were working on similar legislation.

Perry defended his decision, saying his fellow conservatives were wrong to worry that mandating the vaccine will trample parents' rights and promote premarital sex.

"Providing the HPV vaccine doesn't promote sexual promiscuity any more than providing the Hepatitis B vaccine promotes drug use," Perry said in a statement. "If the medical community developed a vaccine for lung cancer, would the same critics oppose it claiming it would encourage smoking?"

[mngran]

I agree with the governor on this one. I have a family member battling cancer right now, and I'd give anything to go back in time and give them a vaccine against it.

[GOPrincess]

I've also had family members battle cancer (and you certainly have my sympathy in that regard)...but I think this is a decision for parents, not the Governor. Particularly as it's a brand-new vaccine. I'd not be open to having my 11-year-old daughter be one of the relative first to try a new vaccine when there's absolutely no reason for her to have it at this age.

JMHO --

[contemplator]

I agree with the governor as well. If this was a lung cancer vaccination it would be a non-issue.

[Alter Kaker]

Perry's absolutely right on this one. There are a few people who see the word "sex" and scream. But this is a commonsense easy fix that could virtually eliminate cervical cancer. What's the downside?

[kinoxi]

Yup.

[Alter Kaker]

. I'd not be open to having my 11-year-old daughter be one of the relative first to try a new vaccine when there's absolutely no reason for her to have it at this age.

There's a very good reason to give it at a young age. Teenagers are the most likely to get HPV.

[mngran]

From later in the article:

"Texas allows parents to opt out of inoculations by filing an affidavit objecting to the vaccine on religious or philosophical reasons..."

I hope that addresses your concern about parental control. My sympathy to you, too.

[TexasCajun]

Merck & Co. seems to have bought some very good business from the State of Texas with its support of The Governor.

[NittanyLion]

Would it change your opinion if you were to learn that Perry has close ties to Merck personnel?

[mngran]

Merck & Co. seems to have bought some very good business from the State of Texas with its support of The Governor.

I don't know enough about Texas politics to know whether there's anything shady between Merck and Perry (I hope there isn't), but in general, I don't have a problem with Merck making money on this. I'm sure they invested millions of dollars in developing this product that could save thousands of lives. I'm all for entrepreneurs being rewarded with profit, and if they save lives in the process, so much the better. Buy some Merck stock and you could reap some of the rewards, too.

[politicalwit]

"Texas allows parents to opt out of inoculations by filing an affidavit objecting to the vaccine on religious or philosophical reasons..."

Opt-out is a cop-out. If anything it should be an opt-in option. The Governor knows that fever people respond to opt-out options. Shame on Governor Goodhair.

[jalisco555]

I'd not be open to having my 11-year-old daughter be one of the relative first to try a new vaccine when there's absolutely no reason for her to have it at this age.

11 is precisely the right age for the vaccine. It's important that girls be immunized before they become sexually active.

[jalisco555]

But this is a commonsense easy fix that could virtually eliminate cervical cancer.

Absolutely correct. The Gardasil vaccine is a stunning breakthrough in public health. It has the potential to save millions of lives worldwide (and lots of them here in the USA).

[contemplator]

It definitely muddies up the water, no doubt. But again, if it were lung cancer I don't feel that it would be an issue regardless of the appearance of influence peddling.

[politicalwit]

fever=fewer

[perseid 67]

No it is not that easy for parents to opt out. They must file an affidavit.

If the school looses the affidavit, they will not call the parent.

I prefer to get my shots from a doctor not a school nurse who is usually an lvn. Texas requires vaccinations but has never been this intrusive before.

Children taken into state custody will be given this vaccine regardless of the parents objections. Do not think for one second that children have not been taken from parents on trumped up charges.


By making this vaccine "voluntary" , Merk is covering its butt if there are severe side effects.

[TracyTucson]

The big companies have bought the governor.

Perry is no longer a governor at this point, he's just a prostitute and a drug dealer.

If any children are harmed by side-effects down the road, they should have the ability to sue the Governor personally in Civil court, and if any children die from side-effects, the Governor should be brought up on criminal charges and possibly given the Texas death penalty if the child dies in extreme pain.

Merck, the same great company that brought us Vioxx just a few years back which led to people dying.
Pfizer just pulled a cholesterol drug back in December because people were dying from it.

[Hydroshock]

Merck donate $6000 to Gov Goodhair's campaign last year.

[TXBubba]

11 is precisely the right age for the vaccine. It's important that girls be immunized before they become sexually active

If a parent wants to have their child get the vaccine that is fine. But to require a child to have it is not. The vaccine is for a STD not something catching via the air. Furthermore this particular vaccine has only been tested on ONE group of 1100 to 1200 girl...17 of which died. I'm not willing to risk my daughter's health or life on something so unproven. The pharmaceutical companies are out to SELL the vaccine and they haven't proven its safety yet.

[Hydroshock]

---

Harris County Republican Party

---

HCRP Chairman Asks Governor Perry to
Rescind HPV Executive Order

I'm calling on Gov. Perry to rescind his executive order mandating that
every 6th grade girl in Texas be inoculated against the Human Papilloma
virus (HPV). Although the health of our children should be a major
priority, this order raises more questions than it answers.

1) How much will each vaccine truly cost?

2) Who will end up paying the bill?

3) Will this order not damage the "abstinence first" message?

4) Have the side effects of this new vaccine been fully vetted
(several articles have brought this into question)?

5) Is this a legitimate role of our state government?

6) What happens to Parental Rights in this decision?

7) Why wasn't our Legislature allowed to vote on such a critical
issue?

8) Why isn't this mandate an opt-in verses an opt-out program?

Call Governor Perry today and ask him to rescind his HPV executive
order.

Gov. Perry's opinion line: 800-252-9600

Gov. Perry's business line: 512-463-2000

Capitol switchboard: 512-463-4630

Also, please be sure and let your elected officials know your position
on mandating HPV vaccinations for our 6th grade girls. To find the
contact number for your elected officials go to
http://www.harriscountygop.com/site/R?i=1osFliM8YJ22gscRgbmFJw..
http://www.harriscountygop.com/site/R?i=y0-AvGzzLv_aMEA-PqZ-IA..

Sincerely,

Jared Woodfill
Chairman, Harris County Republican Party

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