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.
“Just say no to polio vaccines!! “
Are you comparing polio vaccines to gardasil vaccines?
Wow. Really? That is very interesting that you ignorantly believe that Navy is not in Iraq and Afghanistan. We were in Panama too. I was there. Noriega had his henchman shooting at us. I cannot believe that you would think that the Navy has not been on the ground in Afghanistan and Iraq. Well that’s fine because I certainly didn’t do anything for glory. I did it because I love the Navy and the country and still do. I know you do too or you would not be on this site, but I wish you were more studied on real life and not what you assume.
I am not a Perry fan. I am certainly not a Mitt fan.
Actually no one on that stage seemed Presidential with the exception of Herman Cain.
All of them made their points not by debate but by shredding their opponents with Trash Talk.
JMHO
Thanks for speaking for Florida I am sure they appreciate it. Make up your mind. The first debate folks here said they were weak because they didn’t go after anyone. Now they do and you complain. You guys bottom line just like to complain.
I’ll let Perry speak for himself but obviously the writer put some opinion into the piece.
What I can’t understand is why you hate Texan females and want them to die from cancer?
Why do you hate families and affordable medications?
Perry found a way for those who could not afford cancer preventing medicine to obtain it if they wanted it and those that did not want it to by pass it.
What part of that pisses you off the most?
Cancer prevention or affordability?
Seems you only hate women more than you do Perry?
Your opinion and someone’s editorial comments.
It MUST be twue....someone else said it was!
You actually know most folks in Florida? That’s really impressive. I live in a much smaller state and I bet I don’t know 1/2 percent of them.
So is it that he found a way to allow families to get affordable cancer preventing drugs using the political means available to him that you don’t approve of?
Sure sounds like a hissy fit to me.
ROTFL. My opinion (as to whether or not his expression constitutes "hissy fit"), and Perry's own words.
Seriously, given the sentiment he expressed when his EO was countermanded, why would he back off from the mission of mandating the vaccine?
So Perry bashers are the only ones authorized to use hyperbole, partial truth, and innuendo?
LOL You could use the same argument for Dr Mengle.
Sorry, I should have said Southwest Florida. And yes, I am very active in the Party in that part of Florida.
I think Godwin’s Rule or at least a corollary applies here.
I am tired of Obama blaming GWB for all this Country's problems!
It was a cheap shot. Michelle Bauchman can't believe she is being dropped as the party's favorite.
I am a proud member of the Tea Party and was very disappointed with how she conducted herself during and after the debate.
Most seem susceptible to class warfare, and that’s part of it, in a way. Liberals choose villains, people jump on the bandwagon.
Gov. Rick Perry’s 2007 attempt to require that girls in Texas be vaccinated against the cancer-causing human papillomavirus, commonly known as HPV, has become a political hot potato. But Dr. Ronald DePinho, the new president of MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, says the vaccine is not just sound but “one of the great scientific advances in the history of medicine.”
I didn’t think we even needed to talk about Romney, I thought he was dead in the water. I agree with you, he’s not even a viable choice. My concern is that people don’t seem interested in looking past what Perry is saying today and looking at his past record before anointing him the candidate. I simply want him vetted.
I don't hate females of any state and for you to make such an asinine assertion is ludicrous and shows how incredibly desperate you are. But I understand you're trying to defend the indefensible so straying of into left field is to be expected.
What a kook.
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