Radiofree West Hartford - American College of Pediatricians opposes HPV vaccination for school attendance by Judy Aron

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American College of Pediatricians opposes

HPV vaccination for school attendance

By Judy Aron

February 13, 2007

The American College of Pediatricians is opposed to any legislation which would require HPV vaccination for school attendance.

I was glad to see that the American College of Pediatricians dug deep into the studies and are not jumping on the bandwagon of pushing this vaccine for Merck. They take a conservative well reasoned approach which takes into consideration the overall family perspective on the issue. They are also very sensitive to parental rights. Human papillomavirus (HPV), is a sexually transmitted virus which is believed to cause cervical cancer.

They say this:

The American College of Pediatricians is opposed to any legislation which would require HPV vaccination for school attendance. Excluding children from school for refusal to be vaccinated for a disease spread only by penetrating vaginal intercourse is a serious, precedent-setting action that trespasses on the right of parents to make medical decisions for their children as well as on the rights of the children to attend school.

They also say this:

Despite encouraging results in prelicensure studies, research definitively establishing the duration of HPV vaccine protection, degree of protection and spectrum of side effects remain to be determined.

This legislation is being pushed hard by Merck, the makers of Gardisil, who stand to make billions on the sale of this vaccine if it is made mandatory in schools across the country. They are lobbying through the organization Women In Government, who has received funding from Merck.

On February 14 there will be a public hearing at the CT Legislative Office Building in Hartford regarding HB 6977 the bill which will make the HPV vaccine mandatory for girls entering sixth grade here in CT.

If you live in CT please help stop this legislation by writing to legislators on the public health committee or planning to testify at the public hearing.

If you haven't already, please read my previous op-ed "Your Teenage Daughter $$$$ To Merck And Bankrolled Lobbying."