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Update SB80 B 80, HPV vaccine, will be heard in Senate Appropriations Committee Friday March 2, 7:30 am Room SCR 356. Appropriations Committee will only address cost and funding issues. SB 80, as it was amended out of the senate health committee, has 3 main sections. There are cost and funding concerns for each. To read the whole amended bill, go to this link and read the committee report. [PDF] (2) A female student between the ages of eleven and eighteen and her parent or guardian shall be given information by the student's health care provider about the link between human papillomavirus and cervical cancer and the availability of a human papillomavirus vaccine. The legislature should not be telling health care providers what they "shall" do. There is no immediate health threat to justify this. Merck is already promoting their product. The taxpayers should not have to pay for this. (3) On and after the date the department of public health and environment certifies that there is an adequate number of health care providers to administer the human papillomavirus vaccine to underinsured children, unless the requirement to be vaccinated for human papillomavirus is suspended by the State Board of Health in accordance with section 25-4-904, no female student shall be admitted to the sixth grade in any school in Colorado unless she submits acceptable evidence to the school that she has been vaccinated for human papillomavirus or that, after receiving the information required by subsection (2) of this section, the student's parent or guardian has elected for the student not to receive the vaccine. Funding for HPV vaccine at the federal level may not be there if HR 1153, the bill introduced in the US Congress, passes. HR 1153 states: No Federal funds or other assistance may be made available to any State or political subdivision of a State to establish or implement any requirement that individuals receive vaccination for human papillomavirus (HPV).How are schools supposed to know what information a parent or guardian has received from their healthcare provider? Schools should not have to deal with this. What is the cost to the school? (4) (a) THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENT OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE SHALL PRESCRIBE THE CONTENT OF THE INFORMATION REQUIRED BY SUBSECTION (2) OF THIS SECTION AND THE APPROPRIATE FORMS TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF SUBSECTION (3) OF THIS SECTION. What is the cost going to be to provide every healthcare provider with information? Will the taxpayers pay for this or the healthcare provider? Merck should pay for this. There may be more amendments to SB 80. According to a Rocky Mountain News Article, "We're exploring some language to put in the bill so it's clear to parents that their rights are not being trampled on," said House Minority Leader Mike May, co-sponsor of the measure. Exemptions don't always work and they could be taken away later. Anyone who opts-out of a vaccine requirement will be put on a list of non-compliers via the immunization tracking system. Also, even if the school mandate is taken out, the Colorado Board of Health can add it back later. While Board of Health meetings are public, most people never hear about what they are doing. It is the Board of Health that has the authority to decide which vaccines are required for school. 3 new requirements for Colorado school age children were just added by the Board of Health on Jan. 17, 2007; Pnuemococcal, 2nd dose of chickenpox and a booster shot for Tdap. Has the cost of providing these new vaccines to all needy children been considered? ACTION SB80:Contact members of the Senate Appropriations Committee and your own state senator and express your concerns.If SB80 is passed out of appropriations, it will go to the full senate for a 2nd and 3rd reading next. Senate Appropriations Committee: Chair: Senator Tapia, Abel (D) 303-866-2581 - abel.tapia.senat@state.co.us Vice Chair: Senator Keller, Maryanne (Moe) (D) 303-866-2585 - moe.keller.senate@state.co.us Brophy, Greg (R) 303-866-6360 -greg@gregbrophy.net Groff, Peter, (D) 303-866-4864 peter.groff.senate@state.co.us Harvey, Ted (R) 303-866-4881 ted.harvey.senate@state.co.us Johnson, Steve, (R) 303-866-4853 steve.johnson.senate@state.co.us Kopp, Mike (R) 303-866-4859 mike.kopp.senate@state.co.us Takis, Stephanie (D) 303-866-4855 stephanie.takis.senate@state.co.us UPDATE SB97 SB 97, tobacco money into immunization fund, passed house appropriations Friday, Feb. 23rd SB 97 will go to the full house for a vote next. The updated bill shows that tobacco money will go into a new fund created by 25-4-2301. SB97 calls this new fund "The Colorado Immunization Fund" and says it will be used for "immunization and immunization strategies". HB 1301, which has not been heard by any committee yet, also establishes 25-4-2301 as the "The Cervical Cancer Immunization Act". SB 97, page 15 [PDF] HB 1301, page 2 [PDF] UPDATE HR 1153 HR 1153 sponsored by Congressman Gingrey (who is an OBGYN) was introduced on Feb. 16th and assigned to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Below is full text. Parental Right to Decide Protection Act (Introduced in House) HR 1153 IH 110th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 1153 To prohibit Federal funding or other assistance for mandatory human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programs. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES February 16, 2007 Mr. GINGREY (for himself, Mr. PITTS, Mr. CARTER, Mr. GOODE, Mrs. MYRICK, Mr. LAMBORN, Mr. GARRETT of New Jersey, Mr. BOOZMAN, Mr. WELDON of Florida, Mr. KINGSTON, Mr. ADERHOLT, Mrs. BLACKBURN, Mr. BARRETT of South Carolina, Mr. PEARCE, Mr. HOEKSTRA, Mr. PAUL, Mr. AKIN, Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas, Mr. SOUDER, Mr. MCCOTTER, Mrs. MUSGRAVE, Mr. SENSENBRENNER, Mr. PENCE, Mr. SALI, Mr. MANZULLO, Mr. WESTMORELAND, Mr. FORTENBERRY, and Mr. JORDAN of Ohio) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce A BILL To prohibit Federal funding or other assistance for mandatory human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programs. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the `Parental Right to Decide Protection Act'. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. The Congress finds as follows: (1) HPV, the human papillomavirus, is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States. HPV types 16 and 18 cause about 70 percent of cervical cancers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that about 6,200,000 Americans become infected with HPV each year and that over half of all sexually active men and women become infected at some time in their lives. On average, there are 9,710 new cases of cervical cancer and 3,700 deaths attributed to it in the United States each year. (2) Early detection is the key to diagnosing and curing cervical cancer, and therefore the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that all women get regular Pap tests. The Pap test looks for cell changes caused by HPV, so the cervix can be treated before the cells turn into cancer. The FDA also states the Pap test can also find cancer in its early stages so it can be treated before it becomes too serious, and reaches the conclusion that it is rare to die from cervical cancer if the disease is caught early. (3) On June 8, 2006, the FDA approved Gardasil, the first vaccine developed to prevent cervical cancer, precancerous genital lesions, and genital warts due to human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6, 11, 16, and 18. Gardasil is a recombinant vaccine, it does not contain a live virus, and it is given as three injections over a six-month period. The vaccine is approved for use in females 9-26 years of age. However, the FDA also states that since the vaccine is new, more studies need to be done to determine how long women will be protected from HPV. For example, the FDA does not know if a booster is needed after a couple of years to ensure continuity of protection. (4) As detailed by the FDA, four studies were conducted in 21,000 women, one in the United States and three multinational, to show how well Gardasil worked in women between the ages of 16 and 26. The study period was not long enough for cervical cancer to develop; however, preventing cervical precancerous lesions is believed highly likely to result in the prevention of cervical cancer. (5) In January 2007 the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), under the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, issued changes to the previous childhood and adolescent immunization schedule. The ACIP recommends the new human papillomavirus vaccine (HPV) to be administered in a 3-dose schedule with the second and third doses administered 2 and 6 months after the first dose. Routine vaccination with HPV is recommended for females aged 11-12 years, the vaccination series can be started in females as young as age 9 years, and a catch up vaccination is recommended for females aged 13-26 years who have not been vaccinated previously or who have not completed the full vaccine series. (6) States historically have maintained the practice of applying immunization recommendations to their school admittance policies so as to protect schoolchildren from outbreaks of contagious disease. The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons states that there is no public health purpose for mandating HPV vaccine for schoolchildren. HPV is a sexually transmitted disease. (7) With at least 16 States entertaining legislation which takes the unprecedented step in requiring young girls to obtain a vaccine for a disease that is not spread by casual contact in order to attend school, many organizations and associations have come out against mandatory HPV vaccine programs. (8) The Texas Medical Association has stated that although it strongly supports the ability of physicians to provide the HPV vaccine, at this point, it does not support a State mandate. (9) The American College of Pediatricians and the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons are opposed to any legislation which would require HPV vaccination for school attendance. They have stated that excluding children from school for refusal to be vaccinated for a disease spread only by intercourse is a serious, precedent-setting action that trespasses on the right of parents to make medical decisions for their children as well as on the rights of the children to attend school. (10) Federal funds should not be used to implement a mandatory vaccine program for a disease that does not threaten the public health of schoolchildren in the course of casual, daily interaction between classmates and inserts the government into the lives of children, parents, and physicians. SEC. 3. PROHIBITION AGAINST FUNDING FOR MANDATORY HUMAN PAPILLOMAVIRUS (HPV) VACCINATION PROGRAMS. No Federal funds or other assistance may be made available to any State or political subdivision of a State to establish or implement any requirement that individuals receive vaccination for human papillomavirus (HPV). |
