TranceAddict Forums (www.tranceaddict.com/forums)
- Political Discussion / Debate
-- Wacko

Wacko

I don't think this guy will get re-elected. Regardless of how good his intentions may or may not be, I just don't agree with this sort of "forced" action.

quote:

AUSTIN, Texas (AP)--Gov. Rick Perry ordered Friday that schoolgirls in Texas must be vaccinated against the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer, making Texas the first state to require the shots. The girls will have to get Merck & Co.'s (MRK) new vaccine against strains of the human papillomavirus, or HPV, that are responsible for most cases of cervical cancer. Merck is bankrolling efforts to pass laws in state legislatures across the country mandating the Gardasil vaccine for girls as young as 11 or 12. It doubled its lobbying budget in Texas and has funneled money through Women in Government, an advocacy group made up of female state legislators around the country. Details of the order were not immediately available, but the governor's office confirmed to The Associated Press that he was signing the order and would comment Friday afternoon. Perry has several ties to Merck and Women in Government. One of the drug company's three lobbyists in Texas is Mike Toomey, his 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. Toomey was expected to be able to woo conservative legislators concerned about the requirement stepping on parent's rights and signaling tacit approval of sexual activity to young girls. Delisi, as head of the House public health committee, which likely would have considered legislation filed by a Democratic member, also would have helped ease conservative opposition. Perry also received $6,000 from Merck's political action committee during his re-election campaign. It wasn't immediately clear how long the order would last and whether legislation is still necessary. However it could have been difficult to muster support from lawmakers who champion abstinence education and parents' rights. Perry, a conservative Christian who opposes abortion rights and stem-cell research using embryonic cells, counts on the religious right for his political base. But he has said the cervical cancer vaccine is no different than the one that protects children against polio. "If there are diseases in our society that are going to cost us large amounts of money, it just makes good economic sense, not to mention the health and well being of these individuals to have those vaccines available," he said. Texas allows parents to opt out of inoculations by filing an affidavit stating that he or she objected to the vaccine for religious or philosophical reasons. Even with such provisions, however, conservative groups say mandates take away parents' rights to be the primary medical decision-maker for their children. The federal government approved Gardasil in June, and a government advisory panel has recommended that all girls get the shots at 11 and 12, before they are likely to be sexually active. The New Jersey-based drug company could generate billions in sales if Gardasil - at $360 for the three-shot regimen - were made mandatory across the country. Most insurance companies now cover the vaccine, which has been shown to have no serious side effects. Merck spokeswoman Janet Skidmore would not say how much the company is spending on lobbyists or how much it has donated to Women in Government. Susan Crosby, the group's president, also declined to specify how much the drug company gave. 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.

I don't see much of a problem with having this vaccine as mandatory, much in the same manner as the Polio virus, TB shots, etc. are mandatory. If it's a proven vaccine (it is) with very little to no side effects (it is), and if it will help save lives and health complications as a consequence to receiving the disease (it will), I have no real objection.

However, the conflict of interest is duly noted:

quote:

Perry has several ties to Merck and Women in Government. One of the drug company's three lobbyists in Texas is Mike Toomey, his 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. Toomey was expected to be able to woo conservative legislators concerned about the requirement stepping on parent's rights and signaling tacit approval of sexual activity to young girls. Delisi, as head of the House public health committee, which likely would have considered legislation filed by a Democratic member, also would have helped ease conservative opposition. Perry also received $6,000 from Merck's political action committee during his re-election campaign.

That does smell a little funny.

lol, flash forward thirty years... find out it stops one cancer and causes another.

quote:

Originally posted by DJ Shibby lol, flash forward thirty years... find out it stops one cancer and causes another.

Well, they are talking about 12 year-old girls. Certainly a considerable majority will in the early years of their growth and development phase. Fast forward 10 years and find out it stunted their growth or caused mutations of something! The first trillion dollar lawsuit against the state and a pharmaceutical company. A class of thousands. Buy long-dated puts on big-pharma!

They where more aiming for a government subsidised distrobution of it over here in Australia.
Quick FYI on it-
http://www.cancercouncil.com.au/edi....asp?pageid=253

quote:

Originally posted by Shakka Well, they are talking about 12 year-old girls. Certainly a considerable majority will in the early years of their growth and development phase. Fast forward 10 years and find out it stunted their growth or caused mutations of something! The first trillion dollar lawsuit against the state and a pharmaceutical company. A class of thousands. Buy long-dated puts on big-pharma!

Do you support mandatory vaccinations of any other diseases? If so, why is this one different?

The biggest problem with this is that one pharmaceutical company is making the vaccine, there is no competition. They will be striving for the most cost effective vaccine and not the most advanced one. This is communism! Why not let other companies compete? Make a law that states you must get vaccinated, but leave it up to the consumer to choose what company provides their vaccine.

I can see Merck fuking this up somehow.

quote:

Originally posted by Dopey I can see Merck fuking this up somehow.

Merck never--VIOXX--fucks up.

quote:

Originally posted by Sunsnail Do you support mandatory vaccinations of any other diseases? If so, why is this one different?

I think its kind of odd as well, admittedly its a new vaccine but most schools wont let your kids in them without rubella and chickenpox shots.

Re: Wacko

quote:

Originally posted by Shakka I don't think this guy will get re-elected. Regardless of how good his intentions may or may not be, I just don't agree with this sort of "forced" action.

I was really surprised about this coming from Perry. very interesting to say the least.

quote:

Originally posted by Lilith I think its kind of odd as well, admittedly its a new vaccine but most schools wont let your kids in them without rubella and chickenpox shots.

I think the difference is that rubella and chickenpox are communicable by airborne transmission. The purpose of requiring the vaccines is to prevent schools from becoming "hubs" for the transmission of those diseases. Since HPV is not as easily transmitted, the potential for it to spread through a school environment is much lesser.

Still, I support the decision as long as the vaccine is really 100% safe with no significant side-effects.

Powered by: vBulletin
Copyright © 2000-2021, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.