State commissioner backs recommending cervical cancer vaccine

[mhatrw]

http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070317/NEWS/70317013

The state's top health official says she supports recommending girls be vaccinated against cervical cancer, but does not believe the new vaccine should be mandated. Tennessee Commissioner of Health Susan Cooper told the Chattanooga Times Free Press on Friday that without long-term data on the effectiveness of the vaccine, a law requiring it is premature.

"Do I think every female child should be protected against cervical cancer? If there's a way to do it, yes," she said. "Do I think we know enough about the long-term outcomes of this vaccine to say we ought to mandate it today? Maybe not."

Critics have argued that the vaccine, called Gardasil, is too new and its effects need to be further studied before mandating it. The Food and Drug Administration approved Gardasil last year. ...


Tennessee state Rep. David Shepard, D-Dickson, a pharmacist, said he asked Cooper during a recent Health and Human Resources Committee meeting about the vaccine. He said he agrees that the state should not require the vaccine. "It's really something that's between the parents and the child," he said. "It hasn't been tested on the market for a long period of time."

[southerncrone]

1. Thank God, we have some common sense in TN. I'm proud of my Rep. for his stand!

David Shepard is my Rep. I know him personally & have done business w/him for over 20 yrs. He is a good guy. I plan on thanking him for lending his professional opinion on this dubious & controversial topic.

There are not very many families in TN that could afford this vaccine at $360, since insurance doesn't cover it. The TN budget could not support offering at little or no chg.
Not to mention the headache for the schools to insure yet another medical procedure b/4 students may attend school. Since it requires 3 shots at progresssivly different times frames, it would be a nightmare for schools to keep up with.
Especially when the results are not known.

Go, David! :applause: :thumbsup:

:dem: