Texas Governor Parent Over All?
Human Papilloma Virus (or HPV) is an STD that is a leading cause of cervical cancer in women these days. If you want more detailed information click the link above ... it takes you to the CDC's website with info.
Why am I blogging about HPV? Because everyone else in Texas is (Houston Chron Blog, Lone Star Times). Why? Because Governor Rick Perry signed an executive order Friday mandating that 6th grade girls get the new HPV vaccine. All proceeds to Merck (emphasis mine):
I'll just bet they are. The cost per shot of this brand new vaccine is $360 a pop. Multiply that by the number of 12 year old girls across the country and you got yourself a fortune. Way to go Perry! Way too put the wants of your constituents over those of the lobbyists.
I'm a fan of the vaccine. I think vaccine's that prevent cancer are wonderful and should be discussed between patients and doctors in the privacy of their own doctors offices. What don't I like? I vaccine with no history being forced down my throat.
And like the people at Lone Star Times said, HPV is completely different from any other vaccine we make our children get. Chicken Pox, Measels ... these are all easily transmitted. HPV is limited only to sexual contact.
And while I'm not niave enough to think that all young girls are going to be chaste, I certainly do not want my state government forcing a brand new drug on my nieces and eventually my own children. We know nothing about its possible side effects. What if it's infertility?
Ahh, a booster years later. I bet. How much for that? Another $100? Please write out your check to Merck, who will then be bankrolling Gov. Perry for his next election and his run for President off the proceeds.
My favorite part of all this is that they are mandating girls have the vaccine at 6th grade, "before they are likely to be sexually active." So the state is assuming that in junior high our girls are having sex. And apparently for the vaccine to work, you have to have it before you start having sex.
My other favorite tid bit is this (emphasis mine):
Sweet. Again, way too go thinking of your constituents first. We'd be better off with Kinky.
There is an opt-out option, but I assume the paperwork is ridiculous, and not quite as easy as your child bringing a note from the parent to the school. I'm not opposed to this vaccine ... I'm opposed to it's mandate. The government, for it's own fiscal reasons, is stepping in where parents should only trod.
For more information, read the CDC's website about the vaccine.
Chicago Trib has an op-ed where they praise (indirectly) Gov. Perry's decision and they think "When parents get the facts, it's hard to imagine that most wouldn't want this shot for their kids."
LA Times is more balanced, but hardly. My favorite is how they lead with "We are unbelievably enthusiastic to have a vaccine that prevents you from getting cancer." Umm...not so much. It prevents you from getting cervical cancer from HPV, not cervical cancer from other STD's or any other causes. From the CDC: "Because the vaccine does not protect against all types of HPV, it will not prevent all cases of cervical cancer."
The Wall Street Journal's editorial from July is the most interesting, because it claims States won't make it mandatory. Guess they never met Rick Perry. But this is the part I agree with:
Office of the Governor
Why am I blogging about HPV? Because everyone else in Texas is (Houston Chron Blog, Lone Star Times). Why? Because Governor Rick Perry signed an executive order Friday mandating that 6th grade girls get the new HPV vaccine. All proceeds to Merck (emphasis mine):
Merck is bankrolling efforts to pass state laws across the country mandating Gardasil for girls as young as 11 or 12. It doubled its lobbying budget in Texas and has funneled money through Women in Government, an advocacy group made up of female state legislators around the country.
I'll just bet they are. The cost per shot of this brand new vaccine is $360 a pop. Multiply that by the number of 12 year old girls across the country and you got yourself a fortune. Way to go Perry! Way too put the wants of your constituents over those of the lobbyists.
I'm a fan of the vaccine. I think vaccine's that prevent cancer are wonderful and should be discussed between patients and doctors in the privacy of their own doctors offices. What don't I like? I vaccine with no history being forced down my throat.
And like the people at Lone Star Times said, HPV is completely different from any other vaccine we make our children get. Chicken Pox, Measels ... these are all easily transmitted. HPV is limited only to sexual contact.
And while I'm not niave enough to think that all young girls are going to be chaste, I certainly do not want my state government forcing a brand new drug on my nieces and eventually my own children. We know nothing about its possible side effects. What if it's infertility?
The vaccine is too new to know how long protection will last, according to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Studies have followed women for five years and found that they are still protected. More research is being done to find out how long protection will last, and if a booster vaccine is needed years later.
Ahh, a booster years later. I bet. How much for that? Another $100? Please write out your check to Merck, who will then be bankrolling Gov. Perry for his next election and his run for President off the proceeds.
My favorite part of all this is that they are mandating girls have the vaccine at 6th grade, "before they are likely to be sexually active." So the state is assuming that in junior high our girls are having sex. And apparently for the vaccine to work, you have to have it before you start having sex.
My other favorite tid bit is this (emphasis mine):
Perry has several ties to Merck and Women in Government. One of the drug company's three lobbyists in Texas is Mike Toomey, Perry's former chief of staff. His current chief of staff's mother-in-law, Texas Republican state Rep. Dianne White Delisi, is a state director for Women in Government.Perry also received $6,000 from Merck's political action committee during his re-election campaign.
Sweet. Again, way too go thinking of your constituents first. We'd be better off with Kinky.
There is an opt-out option, but I assume the paperwork is ridiculous, and not quite as easy as your child bringing a note from the parent to the school. I'm not opposed to this vaccine ... I'm opposed to it's mandate. The government, for it's own fiscal reasons, is stepping in where parents should only trod.
For more information, read the CDC's website about the vaccine.
Chicago Trib has an op-ed where they praise (indirectly) Gov. Perry's decision and they think "When parents get the facts, it's hard to imagine that most wouldn't want this shot for their kids."
LA Times is more balanced, but hardly. My favorite is how they lead with "We are unbelievably enthusiastic to have a vaccine that prevents you from getting cancer." Umm...not so much. It prevents you from getting cervical cancer from HPV, not cervical cancer from other STD's or any other causes. From the CDC: "Because the vaccine does not protect against all types of HPV, it will not prevent all cases of cervical cancer."
The Wall Street Journal's editorial from July is the most interesting, because it claims States won't make it mandatory. Guess they never met Rick Perry. But this is the part I agree with:
I guess someone needs to remind Gov. Perry that he isn't the boss of us. Send emails HERE. And letters, which I think mean more, to this address:"As for those 11-year-olds, Dr. Maria Trent, a specialist in adolescent medicine at the Johns Hopkins Children's Center, reminds us that what matters is getting immunized before sexual activity begins. The age at which a particular young person may become at risk, she says, is for doctors and parents to determine."
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, Texas 78711-2428
Comments