Cervical cancer vaccine debate heading to the Legislature
The debate over making cervical cancer vaccines available to young women
is coming to the state Legislature today.
A group of anti-vaccine activists plans to attend this morning's Senate
Codes Committee hearing to protest a bill that would let health care professionals
give the vaccine to women younger than 18 without parental consent.
The
measure, sponsored in the Senate by Liz Krueger and in the Assembly by Amy
Paulin -- both Democrats -- aims to protect women against preventable cervical
cancer. The legislation also notes that Planned Parenthood clinics have been
seeing teenagers coming in and requesting the vaccine.
Krueger
said such vaccines have a proven track record. "It has a direct
correlation to preventing cancer," she said, adding the legislation wouldn't
make such vaccines mandatory.
She
added that the vaccines have been approved by the federal Food and Drug
Administration for some time. "I never would have proposed this for New
York if it wasn't approved by the FDA," Krueger said.
But
parents who oppose the measure believe they should have a say in their
children's health care decisions.
"It's
taking away parental consent," said Heather Walker, a Schenectady mother
who fears it could open the door to vaccines such as Gardasil becoming
mandatory in schools.
Some
of the protestors fear the measure could open the door to mandatory
vaccinations for other conditions. Paulin has a bill in that would mandate
Gardasil HPV vaccinations in schools, although it hasn't moved from the
Assembly Health committee. Her legislation notes that the federal Centers for
Disease Control recommends the vaccinations for girls by age 12.
Gardasil
is the vaccine against certain strains of human papillomavirus (HPV).
The
variety of HPV that is linked to cancer is sexually transmitted.
That
debate over Gardasil erupted into a political battle three years ago in Texas
when Gov. Rick Perry, a Republican, signed an executive order making
vaccination mandatory. Facing a firestorm of opposition, Perry saw the
Legislature override his order.
Source:
timesunion.com