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.

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ATLANTA - Pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca is pledging $10 million to the American Cancer Society, the second-largest gift in the organization’s history, to help provide one-on-one support for cancer patients in U.S. hospitals, the American Cancer Society said Wednesday.

The society said the money will help it develop 50 new sites for its Patient Navigator Program. One of the first three sites was in AstraZeneca’s U.S. base of Wilmington, Del., at the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center at Christiana Care.

“While there are many uncertainties associated with cancer,” said Richard C. Wender, the national volunteer president of the American Cancer Society, “the Patient Navigator Program can relieve some of these anxieties by providing personalized support and education for the needs of each patient and their families.”

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