Yesterday, a friend sent a global email about the new vaccine against HPV, an STD that causes cervical cancer. I didn’t even read it, mainly because I’m fairly familiar with the vaccine and it’s controversy. I also avoid reading global emails that promote gloom, doom and despair.
One mother who had recently had her daughters given the vaccine was upset. She was completely unaware of issues surrounding it. I wonder how it is that I don’t watch the nightly news, read the daily newspaper, or listen to NPR or any talk radio, and I still know about stuff like this. And I wonder how other people can be completely oblivious to it.
I was irritated by the first global email, and this “reply all” was equally annoying. I offered up the 5 seconds it took me to delete it and went about my day. Then several other woman did their “reply all” rants about how vaccinating against cancer is good. Who can really argue against that? Cancer = Bad…No Cancer = Good. Pretty simple, right?
Nevertheless, I felt compelled to do my own “reply all” (surely upsetting everyone, like me, who can’t stand having strangers argue in my own personal inbox). I explained that the issue that seemed to be raised in the first email was not the vaccine itself but the government mandate. I explained that HPV is not a public health risk in the way that polio or small pox had been. I am opposed to government involvement in the minutiae of personal lives. Doctors can be forceful enough in demanding encouraging parents to do certain procedures; we don’t need the government to make it the law as well.
Of course, Merck knows well that doctors will only reach those potential customers whose parents actually bring them to the doctor every so often. There are legions of kids who might miss out on this chance to line Merck’s pockets, so Merck feels the need to lobby state congresses. By making it a state law, thousands of kids who might otherwise never have the opportunity to get stuck in the arm will now be ordered to do so.
Unfortunately, you don’t even need to lobby the state congress if your buddies are high enough up on the food chain:
By using an executive order that bypassed the Legislature, Republican Gov. Rick Perry — himself a conservative — on Friday avoided such opposition, making Texas the first state to mandate that schoolgirls get vaccinated against the virus.
That’s right, one man gets to unilaterally decide what’s best for all schoolgirls in Texas. Nice of him, huh? How about nice for him:
Perry has 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.
The governor also received $6,000 from Merck’s political action committee during his re-election campaign.
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 is doing an excellent job of mucking the waters of what should be a crystal-clear issue: do we, the people, want laws and executive orders based on what is best for us, or what is best for large corporations? It is one thing to mandate that insurances cover the vaccine. It is one thing to mandate that the state pay for those who have no insurance. It is quite another to mandate that children receive it, especially when the public health is not at risk.
** UPDATE (3/1/07): For all you you have come here via a Google search, I’ve reiterated my main points in a newer post.
Reit This Way 
I’m seriously thankful that Middle Sister dodged this bullet at her 11-year-old exam a little while ago. It was not offered (THANK YOU to our very PROLIFE pediatrician–that’s why we picked him!)
By the time the issue comes up again I will be ready to engage in whatever debate it takes. Just what we all need–vaccines that encourage promiscuity without consequences.
I do think there is a valid concern that a woman does not know everything about her partner, and should therefore attempt to protect herself against his actions. But I do not see this being pushed for ALL women – aren’t we all at risk then? Am I in any less danger than an 11 year old? Hopefully – YES – since I am engaging in “risky” behavior and she, one would hope, is not.
Every parent has to decide for themselves what is best for their child. I am thankful that I have the time to wait it out and see the consequences.
What really annoys me are those who say, “Well, you can always file for an exemption for moral reasons…” To which I say, “Well, you can always get the vaccine if you want it…” Why should I have to take extra steps to do what should be my right in the first place?
This is really an issue of personal freedom in the face of government intrusion into our personal lives. We need to learn from NH: “Live free or die.”
It was all over the news last night, and since Texans are pretty non-negotiating when it comes to their rights, you better believe that the media will expose Perry for his personal interest$$ on this matter…
Yet another reason I’m glad we homeschool!!
The idea that my girls would be required to get vaccinated against an STD, oh, that just makes me mad. It’s none of their business, and you’re right, it’s not a public health threat. What makes me madder, though, is that this governor decided himself without the input of the other duly elected officials, and that he does indeed have a financial interest in it.
Well said, Michelle.
Thank you, Michelle, for addressing this issue. Since reading the news article online last night – it has bothered me that this is happening. Medicine – and Drug Companies are BIG BUSINESS and is so very controlling of doctors, hospitals and even individuals (who are continually bombarded by advertisements for this, that, and the other thing…), and (in this case), politicians! They want us to be dependent on them (the big drug companies) – because that is what leads to their extreme wealth. We have to keep ourselves well-informed so that we can look out for our family’s best interest.
Yes, I was shocked that this sort of thing occured in Texas…my safe heaven…I’d totally expect this in California, or New York…but Texas…wow, Rick Perry will surely get a load of greif for that…I’d be more shocked if he doesn’t.
Then, in CA, we’ve got Gov. Benedict Arnold going from fiscally conservative to Unified State Health Care…what is going on!
Neither my 15yo dd nor my 12yo dd were offered this vaccine at their physical this week….
of course the reason could be that the US military medical community overseas doesn’t have it in stock yet
I expressed similar concerns here. Interestingly, soon after I posted my article someone from Merck peeked in. (I could see their ISP on the site meter) Then another physician joined the discussion and advocated for mandating the vaccine. I could tell from her site meter entry that she was from New Jersey, right near the Merck headquarters. Coincidence, huh? Also, the Washington Times ran an article today questioning the vaccine’s safety.
Denise, Thank you for your links. I had read your comments and had thought about linking to you after I had posted, but hadn’t gotten around to it yet.
And the questionable side effects…I am very glad I have at least 4 or 5 years before my girls are even old enough to receive it. I find it alarming that seizures would not be considered serious.
Tim wrote a piece on this at his blog: http://catholicmedicalweekly.blogspot.com
I snipped a portion:
HPV is a sexually transmitted disease. You don’t get it if the person next to you coughs, and you don’t get it from a water fountain or a toilet seat. Requiring HPV immunizations for young girls (and that is what ACIP “recommendations” amount to: requirements) is, in my view, no different from requiring that all school age girls be put on contraception. The decision to vaccinate one’s little girl with Gardasil should reside strictly within the family. Legislating its use is inappropriately paternalistic. The National Catholic Bioethics Center has summarized it appropriately:
“The NCBC considers HPV vaccination to be a morally acceptable method of protecting against this disease, but asks that civil authorities leave this decision to parents and not make such immunization mandatory.”[7]