Skip to main content

Texas Gov Rick Perry buckles to Merck; Executive Order Requires Gardasil vaccine for all girls

Actual Executive Order issued today, February 2, 2007, in which Governor Rick Perry requires all girls to receive the human papillomavirus vaccine by sixth grade. The decree recommends the vaccine for all females currently nine years old to women 26 years old. It also covers all girls not yet nine, requiring them to receive the vaccine before they will be admitted to sixth grade.

I imagine all the women and girls and Texas are breathing a huge sigh of relief since they no longer have to worry their pretty little heads about whether to get the Gardasil vaccine.

Gardasil, a prophylactic human papillomavirus vaccine, may prevent some forms of cervical cancer and other and other diseases caused by certain types of HPV. The vaccine will cover approximately 70% of HPV-related cervical cancer cases.

Texas was one of 18 states considering the heavy campaign by Merck---the manufacturer of Gardasil---to require the vaccine. Merck doubled its expenditures on lobbying in Texas, and hired Perry's former chief of staff, Mike Toomey, to lead the lobbying effort.

According the the Drudge Retort:

Laws could mean billions in sales 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.

Cathie Adams, president of the conservative watchdog group Texas Eagle Forum, said the relationship between Merck and Women in Government is too cozy.

"What it does is benefit the pharmaceutical companies, and I don't want pharmaceutical companies taking precedence over the authorities of parents," she said.

Adams said Merck's method of lobbying quietly through groups like Women in Government in addition to meeting directly with legislators are common in state government but still should raise eyebrows. "It's corrupt as far as I'm concerned," she said.


I agree. HPV is not a public health issue; it's a private health issue. Therefore, the decision must be left up to each individual.

Edited to add: For more information, also see Texas Gov. orders anti-cancer vaccine.

copyright 2007 Julie Pippert

Technorati
Tags: ,,,,

Comments

That is very interesting. I wonder if they are planning something similar here. They are running ads like crazy about the HPV. Why does it seem like the government is hellbent on determining what we do with our bodies? HMMM
Christina said…
While I'm thrilled that a vaccine is available, this kind of thing makes me nervous. For one, it's a very new vaccine - I'd rather wait it out to see just how safe it is. Not to mention, they still aren't sure if it protects for life, or if boosters will be needed 5, 10, 20 or more years down the road.

Forcing such a new vaccine on women and girls isn't right. It should be left up to the individual and, if she is a child, her family. Educate us, don't just force us to comply.
Julie Pippert said…
Queen, oh yes, I do wonder about thehellbent determination to decide for us about our bodies.

As for your state...there were 18 states being heavily lobbyed who were on the fence, considering doing it. There should be a legislative watch-list for your state you can check.

Hey, I'd LOVE your professional take on the entry below this one, the proposed bill to criminally charge and fine parents who miss a teacher conference.

Christina, I feel the exact same way. When they forced us---literally---to give my oldest daughter the brand-new varicella vaccine when she was one year old, one of my concerns was the lack of field data for long-term efficacy. Varicella as an adult with a lapsed immunity can be very dangerous. I asked and asked about later need for booster and was assured that the vaccine was life-long.

I know enough to know that is unlikely. Some people are vaccine-resistant to some vaccines, or never develop long-term immunity from the vaccine. I have two I have to get boosters for any time I am in an at-risk situation due to this. And that's for vaccinations that have been around (obviously, LOL) for a while.

Now a mere four years later I'm told my DD requires a booster for varicella. I said, and in four years from now? And when she's 28 and pregnant and at high-risk?

And they can't make promises.

So that said, I think I feel understandably nervous and reserved about this.

I am thrilled about this vaccine. Part of me hopes that with a breakthrough in DNA vaccines there might also be one with RNA vaccines.

The HPV vaccine can really be useful. It's great they have it.

And I was researching it and considering the best thing to do.

But like you, my concern is strongly related to the fact that it is so new, and has so many unknowns.

Well here I've gone on longer than my blog LOL.

Just ditto to you Christina, exactly and well-put.
thailandchani said…
I also have to ditto Christina. They don't have any business enforcing these kinds of things without having the long-term data to back up their claims. I recall a vaccine that was given to service members a few years back. It was a disaster.

Unless these things are free and tested, I oppose any enforced vaccination. It's a private health issue, not a public threat.


Peace,

~chani
Gina Pintar said…
No side effects? How about the 225 mcg of aluminum in the 3 shot series!

Popular posts from this blog

In defense of vanity...I think

Do you have one of those issues where you argue with yourself? Where you just aren't sure what you actually think because there are so many messages and opinions on the topic around you? I have more than one like this. However, there is one topic that has been struggling to the top of my mind recently: vanity and perceived vanity. Can vanity be a good thing? Vanity has historically been truly reviled. Vanity is number seven of the Seven Deadly Sins. It's the doppleganger of number seven on the Seven Holy Virtues list: humility. There are many moralistic tales of how vanity makes you evil and brings about a spectacular downfall. Consider the lady who bathed in the blood of virgins to maintain her youth. Google Borgia+vanity and find plenty. The Brothers Grimm and Disney got in on the act too. The Disney message seems to be: the truly beautiful don't need to be vain. They are just naturally eye-catchingly gorgeous. And they are all gorgeous. Show me the Reubenesque Princess.

Cancer's Calling Card

Foreword: I'm not a medical person, or any kind of expert. This post shouldn't be taken as God's word carved in stone by Moses. In other words, don't consider it to be any kind of authority or use it to treat, diagnose, or select medications. Do your own research and talk to your doctor, an actual expert, who, you know, went to medical school and stuff. This post is merely my best understanding of cancer and cancer treatment and prevention, as related to our situation, based on what I've learned from reading and talking to doctors. Author's Note: If you aren't interested in the cancer discussion and the things I learned, and only want to know the outcome of our appointment with the oncologist yesterday, skip to the end. I've divvied this up by sections, so go to the last section. What would you do if one day a postcard arrived in the mail to warn you that sometime in the next three years you would be diagnosed with cancer? Would you believe it? Change an

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Quorum

After being confronted with written evidence, Julie admits that she is a total attention whore. In some things, in some ways, sometimes I look outward for validation of my worth and existence. I admit it. It's my weak spot, my vanity spot . If you say I am clever, comment on a post, offer me an award, mention me on your blog, reply to a comment I left on your blog, or in any way flatter me as a writer...I am hopelessly, slavishly devoted to you. I will probably even add you to my blogroll just so everyone can see the list of all the cool kids who actually like me . The girl, she knows she is vain in this regard , but after much vanity discussion and navel-gazing , she has decided to love herself anyway, as she is (ironically) and will keep searching for (1) internal validation and (2) her first person . Until I reach a better point of self-actualization, though, may I just say that this week you people have been better than prozac and chocolate (together, with a side of white choc