AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry – usually a hero to social conservatives – surprised many of them Friday by making Texas the first state to mandate a vaccine for sixth-grade girls to prevent a sexually transmitted infection that leads to most kinds of cervical cancer.
In his executive order, Mr. Perry said girls must receive the human papillomavirus vaccine before school starts in September 2008. While noting that parents may opt out of the vaccine for conscience or religious reasons, he said it "provides us with an incredible opportunity to effectively target and prevent cervical cancer."
The move was applauded by many women's groups but harshly denounced by social conservatives for its intrusion into parents' control over their kids' health. Some also alleged that Merck – the pharmaceutical company with the only vaccine on the market – was responsible for the initiative.
"Follow the money. It leads to Merck," said Cathie Adams, president of the conservative Texas Eagle Forum.
Merck had provided a relatively small amount of money to Mr. Perry's campaign fund – $5,000 in 2006 – and has paid three lobbyists up to $250,000 this year. One of the lobbyists, Mike Toomey, was formerly Mr. Perry's chief of staff.
But press secretary Robert Black said the governor has not talked to anyone from Merck or to Mr. Toomey about the initiative.
"He came to the conclusion it was the right thing to do. You don't have opportunities like this where you can certainly prevent a cancer. It's never happened before, so it would be irresponsible to walk away from it," Mr. Black said.
The drug in question, Merck's Gardasil, was approved by the federal government in June, 2006. It supposedly protects girls against HPV (the human papillomavirus), which can lead to cervical cancer. The government has advised the girls get the shot while young (age 11) and before they are sexually active.
Opposition to the drug comes from many groups that believe that girls, once vaccinated, will become sexually promiscuous, as they will not have the fear of contracting HPV. It is the same narrow minded opposition that is voiced against passing out condoms in school or teaching sex education at all. People, wake up, teenagers will have sex (remind me of this statement in approximately 14 years, thanks.) If they are going to do it anyway, shouldn't we protect them. Also, lets just say that you raised the perfect angel, who does not have sex until she is married. Who can you guarantee that her husband was also abstinent? What if he was a carrier. Shouldn't she be protected? I know Ms. Legalbgl (who is a pharmacy professor), has already declared that our daughter (who hasn't even been born yet) will have the shot.
There is no doubt that Merck is behind this initiative, and Merck should be careful, as they are walking a fine ethical and moral line.
With at least 18 states debating whether to require Merck’s Gardasil vaccine for schoolgirls, Merck has funneled money through Women in Government, an advocacy group made up of female state legislators around the country.
A top official from Merck’s vaccine division sits on Women in Government’s business council, and many of the bills around the country have been introduced by members of Women in Government.
***
Merck spokeswoman Janet Skidmore would not say how much the company is spending on lobbyists or how much it has donated to Women in Government. Crosby also declined to specify how much the drug company gave.
But Skidmore said: “We disclosed the fact that we provide funding to this organization. We’re not in any way trying to obscure that.”
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.
Lets see how many other states follow Texas's lead.
No comments:
Post a Comment