Michigan HPV Mandate: "On Hold"

More efforts to mandate the HPV vaccinations are failing around the country. This report from Michigan.

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Parents and physicians concerned about state lawmakers requiring HPV immunizations without knowing the long-term physical and social effects won a victory this week. Bills introduced in January have not left Senate and House health policy committees. “We’re on hold for now,” said anesthesiologist and committee chair Sen. Tom George, R-Portage, noting the controversial nature of the issue being discussed across the country.

Texas Veto Showdown Coming?

With the Texas House passing HB 1098 to rescind Gov. Rick Perry's mandate for HPV vaccination, and the Senate preparing to do the same, a possible veto showdown is looming on the horizon in Texas. Read this article for details.

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The approval margin, 119-21, exceeded the two-thirds of the 150-member House needed to override a veto. Similar Senate action could foreshadow the first override of a veto since the Democratic-majority Legislature reversed GOP Gov. Bill Clements on a measure affecting Comal County in 1979.

And this from the Senate side of things:

Sen. Glenn Hegar, R-Katy, author of companion legislation, predicted the Senate will likewise reverse Perry by a two-thirds margin: "We can certainly get the bill passed out in plenty of time. If the governor vetoes the bill, we'll certainly have adequate time to override."

Colorado HPV Vaccination Mandate Fails

This report from Colorado, details the failure of their HPV vaccination mandate attempt.

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A State Senate panel has rejected a watered-down proposal, designed to encourage cervical cancer vaccinations for young girls. Lawmakers refused to approve a version that would only require doctors to tell parents about the shots.

And this:

But even the weaker version fell short. The Senate Appropriations Committee deadlocked on a 5-to-5 vote, so the bill will NOT move on to the full Senate.

US House Bill Would Prohibit Funding HPV Mandates

A bill introduced by Georgia Representative Phil Gingrey (an obstetrician and gynecologist) would prohibit states from using any federal funds for mandating the HPV vaccination. Read the full article here.

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"Mandating the HPV vaccination is both unprecedented and unacceptable," said Rep. Phil Gingrey, a Republican, who is an obstetrician and gynecologist. "Whether or not girls get vaccinated against HPV is a decision for parents and physicians, not state governments."

And this:

The Washington Times has reported that Gardasil is known to be effective for only five years, leaving a high percentage vulnerable to cervical cancer. Data from the American Cancer Society show that women between 40 and 55 overwhelmingly get cervical cancer more than any other age group. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the reasoning behind its recommendation that girls ages 11 and 12 get the vaccine is to protect the girls before sexual contact.

Finally:

"If this bill were enacted, it would signal the end of state vaccine mandates [for HPV]," said Lawrence Gostin, director of the Center for Law and the Public's Health at Johns Hopkins and Georgetown universities. "No state could forgo the considerable federal funds." Mr. Gostin added that it is very common for states to use federal money to help children receive vaccinations.

House Passes HB 1098!

Lots of news coverage about the stunning rebuke to Governor Rick Perry's executive order requiring young girls to be vaccinated for a disease that is only transmitted via sexual activity.

The vote was 119 to 21 - which is a veto proof majority.

The attention will now move to the Senate, which is also expected to their bill via a large, veto-proof majority.

Various news stories for your perusal:

• AP News Story
• ABC News
• El Paso Times

House Overwhelmingly Passes HB 1098

In a stinging rebuke to Gov. Perry, the Texas House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed HB 1098. The vote was 119 to 21.

From Representative Bonnen - this release:

BONNEN PASSES BILL TO REVERSE HPV VACCINE MANDATE
HB 1098 Overrides
Governor's Executive Order

Today I successfully passed HB 1098 on the House floor with overwhelming bipartisan support by a vote of 119-21. This bill reverses the Governor's executive order mandating the HPV vaccine of all eleven-year old girls entering the sixth grade and ensures that parents are given back the right to individually decide what is best for their children.

I am not opposed to the HPV vaccine but I am strongly opposed to the state telling parents that we know better than they do. Until we know how the vaccine could affect the future health of these young girls, it would be extremely irresponsible for us to mandate it.

We'd be sending a false message to families saying that we know it is safe when,
in reality, there are so many questions left unanswered about its effectiveness
and long-term implications. I am authoring HB 1098 to reverse the Governor's mandate and ensure Texas eleven-year-olds are not used as Merck's guinea pigs.

I will continue to fight for the rights of families on this issue as this bill now moves over to the Senate for further debate.

Texas House Debates Today to Overturn RP65!

Today, the Texas House of Representatives will debate HB 1098, a bill designed to overturn Rick Perry's executive order that mandated young girls be vaccinated for HPV - a virus that is spread only through sexual contact.

Read coverage here.

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One of the most controversial issues in Texas right now will take center stage at the Capitol Tuesday. Legislators who complained they didn't get to weigh in on Gov. Rick Perry's anti-cancer vaccine mandate will get that chance Tuesday.

One-hundred-fifty state representatives will debate a bill that would keep the HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) vaccine off the list of required shots for school attendance. The vaccine protects against strains of HPV that cause most cases of cervical cancer.

And this:

The House's vote will come after two lawmakers announced that they had met with Attorney General Greg Abbott. They say he told them the governor's executive order requiring the vaccine does not carry the weight of law.

"Basically, what he told us is that the governor can't require an agency to do something through an executive order, that they don't already have the authority to do," said Sen. Jane Nelson (R-Lewisville).

Texas AG - Perry Order Does Not Carry Force of Law

According to those who have met with the Texas Attorney General, they report that he has found that Gov. Rick Perry's order mandating the vaccination of young girls for a sexually transmitted disease does not carry the force of law. Read the article here.

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Two legislators who met with Attorney General Greg Abbott say Gov. Rick Perry's anti-cervical cancer vaccine order does not carry the weight of law.

A statement Monday from the lawmakers says Texas health officials aren't required to follow last month's executive order.

And this:

Senator Jane Nelson of Lewisville and Representative Jim Keffer of Eastland later asked Abbott to clarify the governor's authority on executive orders and the Legislature's ability to overrule them.

The two lawmakers released a statement saying it appears the order is, in effect, an "advisory order" and does not carry the weight of law.