DC and HPV
I mentioned last night that Leonardo and I are likely to agree more than disagree, however, as this entry will make clear - that's not always going to be the case.
Leonardo, posting on To The People, came out swinging on Texas Governor Rick Perry's decision to make the HPV/cervical cancer vaccine mandatory. According to Leonardo,
Immunizations were traditionally limited to diseases that were contagious through ordinary contact, such as measles, mumps or smallpox. To force immunization upon citizens for a disease that is only spread through sex is a whole 'nother view of the role of public health. Perry's view of the government is that it ought to protect us from ourselves, a view that manifests itself in drug laws, seat belt laws, trans-fat bans and helmet laws.
Leonardo also raises the specter of evil big PhRMA pulling Governor Perry's strings:
Perry's motivations might be also be Abramoff-esqe:
Merck is bankrolling efforts to pass state laws across the country mandating Gardasil 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.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.
I couldn't disagree more with Leonardo on this issue. Here is the bottom line, the "mandatory" vaccinations in Texas - like those proposed here in DC - aren't "mandatory" at all. Unlike the seat belt laws, drug laws, trans fat bans, and helmet laws that Leonardo likens this too - this legislation isn't actually mandatory. Indeed the Texas provision, as well as the proposed DC provision, provide generous opt-out provisions for any parent not wanting their child to get the vaccine. The legislation proposed by DC Councilman David Catania makes it clear what a paper dragon this barking about "mandatory" really is:
Catania insists that the legislation doesn't target any particular group and the vaccination wouldn't exactly be mandatory. "What we are doing is we're forcing the conversation. Either you are going to have your child vaccinated, or you will make an informed decision to opt out," Catania says. In the District, parents would not have to provide a reason for their objection.
Would anyone argue that our draconian drug laws were actually draconian if they provided an "opt out"??? Who could complain about the nanny state if seat belt laws included an "opt out" for folks who just don't feel like wearing them???
Indeed, making this vaccine "mandatory" is really about making it available to low-income, under-insured, and uninsured families:
In order to maximise the coverage of the vaccination programme in Texas, the Governor has ordered that the vaccine will be free for girls aged 9 to 18 who are either not insured or not covered for the vaccine. And Medicaid will be required to offer it to women from 19 to 21 years old too.
The bottom line is that most of the opposition to this has nothing to do with HPV, cervical cancer, or personal freedom. Leonardo, and other libertarian minded opponents to this measure, make up only a tiny fragment of the real opposition to this legislation. The bulk of the opposition comes from the knuckle-dragging far right that is hell bent on making everything about sex. The Texas Eagle Forum - not exactly a leading light for personal freedom - has been leading the parade of puritanical zealots. Joined by a motley crew of theocons:
"We cannot overlook the moral dimension," said Scarborough, president of the Lufkin-based Vision America religious group. "The governor's action seems to signify that God's moral law regarding sex outside of marriage can be transgressed without consequence."
Ugh. These folks never stop. Never mind that 14,000 women a year get cervical cancer as a result of HPV. Never mind that 4,000 women a year die as a result of cervical cancer. At the end of the day it's all about sex.
Let's make it clear, I would not support an HPV vaccine that was actually mandatory - ie legislation without an opt out for parents. However, the legislation in Texas, and proposed here in DC, provide generous opt out provisions and as a result do nothing to limit individual liberty. Accordingly, DC should join Texas in passing this common sense legislation.
Leonardo, posting on To The People, came out swinging on Texas Governor Rick Perry's decision to make the HPV/cervical cancer vaccine mandatory. According to Leonardo,
Immunizations were traditionally limited to diseases that were contagious through ordinary contact, such as measles, mumps or smallpox. To force immunization upon citizens for a disease that is only spread through sex is a whole 'nother view of the role of public health. Perry's view of the government is that it ought to protect us from ourselves, a view that manifests itself in drug laws, seat belt laws, trans-fat bans and helmet laws.
Leonardo also raises the specter of evil big PhRMA pulling Governor Perry's strings:
Perry's motivations might be also be Abramoff-esqe:
Merck is bankrolling efforts to pass state laws across the country mandating Gardasil 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.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.
I couldn't disagree more with Leonardo on this issue. Here is the bottom line, the "mandatory" vaccinations in Texas - like those proposed here in DC - aren't "mandatory" at all. Unlike the seat belt laws, drug laws, trans fat bans, and helmet laws that Leonardo likens this too - this legislation isn't actually mandatory. Indeed the Texas provision, as well as the proposed DC provision, provide generous opt-out provisions for any parent not wanting their child to get the vaccine. The legislation proposed by DC Councilman David Catania makes it clear what a paper dragon this barking about "mandatory" really is:
Catania insists that the legislation doesn't target any particular group and the vaccination wouldn't exactly be mandatory. "What we are doing is we're forcing the conversation. Either you are going to have your child vaccinated, or you will make an informed decision to opt out," Catania says. In the District, parents would not have to provide a reason for their objection.
Would anyone argue that our draconian drug laws were actually draconian if they provided an "opt out"??? Who could complain about the nanny state if seat belt laws included an "opt out" for folks who just don't feel like wearing them???
Indeed, making this vaccine "mandatory" is really about making it available to low-income, under-insured, and uninsured families:
In order to maximise the coverage of the vaccination programme in Texas, the Governor has ordered that the vaccine will be free for girls aged 9 to 18 who are either not insured or not covered for the vaccine. And Medicaid will be required to offer it to women from 19 to 21 years old too.
The bottom line is that most of the opposition to this has nothing to do with HPV, cervical cancer, or personal freedom. Leonardo, and other libertarian minded opponents to this measure, make up only a tiny fragment of the real opposition to this legislation. The bulk of the opposition comes from the knuckle-dragging far right that is hell bent on making everything about sex. The Texas Eagle Forum - not exactly a leading light for personal freedom - has been leading the parade of puritanical zealots. Joined by a motley crew of theocons:
"We cannot overlook the moral dimension," said Scarborough, president of the Lufkin-based Vision America religious group. "The governor's action seems to signify that God's moral law regarding sex outside of marriage can be transgressed without consequence."
Ugh. These folks never stop. Never mind that 14,000 women a year get cervical cancer as a result of HPV. Never mind that 4,000 women a year die as a result of cervical cancer. At the end of the day it's all about sex.
Let's make it clear, I would not support an HPV vaccine that was actually mandatory - ie legislation without an opt out for parents. However, the legislation in Texas, and proposed here in DC, provide generous opt out provisions and as a result do nothing to limit individual liberty. Accordingly, DC should join Texas in passing this common sense legislation.
posted by ChrisBarronDC at 9:03 AM
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