Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s decision to require all pre-teen girls to be vaccinated against the human papilloma virus (HPV) that is one cause for cervical cancer has drawn fire from conservative political groups, parents and consumer advocates.
HPV is a sexually transmitted virus and requiring 11-year-olds to be vaccinated the same way they get shots for measles and other diseases is jarring. Add to that the political intrigue: It turns out that Mr. Perry’s former chief of staff is a lobbyist for Merck & Co., the only manufacturer of the drug that has been shown to prevent the virus — Gardasil.
Do pre-teen girls to have this vaccine promote premarital sex?
Conservative groups think inoculating little girls against sexually transmitted disease is a tacit acceptance — or encouragement — of immoral behavior. But right-wingers aren’t the only ones concerned.
The jury is still out on this drug’s long-term effectiveness. And there have been some negative reactions reported. Plus, Merck & Co. is spending millions of dollars to market the drug and their political ties run deep in almost every state.
Obviously, curing cancer in all of its forms ought to be the goal of modern medicine. But is it medical science, or politics and slick marketing, that’s driving this push for HPV vaccinations?
Meanwhile Governor Rick Perry revealed that his call to vaccinate school aged girls against HPV is more personal than political. In a Perry scheduled interview with five reporters, the Texas Governor revealed that prostate cancer runs in his family, and some personal information about his family member’s experiences with cancer. “Every generation of Perry’s, back to the 1850s, has died of prostate cancer. I’m going to get it,” said Perry.
