[lbo-talk] Canada one-ups Texas by requiring HPV vaccine while TX rightists still fight it

[B.]

Texas' otherwise loathsome GOP Governor Rick Perry (dubbed "Governor Goodhair" by the late Molly Ivins) did something a few months ago I actually supported. He signed a bill stating girls in public school be given HPV vaccine due to its impeccable track record in preventing cervical cancer. Parents COULD OPT OUT of the school provision if they chose, a fact not widely reported in the media.

Still, not good enough: Cultural conservatives didn't like this and rightwing talk radio spoke about vaccination leading to sexual promiscuity and all around whoredom. Pundits dredged up some stories that supposedly pointed to shady backroom deals between Rick Perry and Merck, the vaccine manufacturer. Even though parents could always opt out, families from conservative bastions like Plano, TX, are took the matter into the courts to overturn Perry's executive order.

"[N]ow the Texas House of Representatives has
voted 119-21 to pass legislation to overturn Perry's executive order
requiring school age girls to get the HPV vaccine."  (from http://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=2948193&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312)

Now Canada recently announced a massive 300 million effort to ensure girls get vaccinated. Bravo!

-B.

$300-million tagged for cervical-cancer fight
Globe & Mail
GLORIA GALLOWAY

OTTAWA -- Human papillomavirus, the leading cause of cervical cancer, will be targeted with $300-million in vaccination funding announced yesterday by the federal Conservative government.

It's a decision that is being hailed by health professionals -- and will hold much appeal for parents of teenage girls -- but could alienate some elements of the socially right-wing base of the Conservative Party.

Cervical cancer is the second-most common form of cancer -- after breast cancer -- in women between 20 and 44.

[...]

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070320.BUDGETHEALTH20/TPStory/National