California Lawmaker Introduces Bill That Would Mandate HPV Vaccination For Girls Entering Sixth Grade

Main Category: Women's Health / Gynecology
Also Included In: Cervical Cancer / HPV Vaccine;  Immune System / Vaccines;  Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 13 Dec 2006 - 3:00 PDT

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California Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Sally Lieber (D) on Monday introduced a bill (AB 16) that would require all California girls entering the sixth grade to receive a human papillomavirus vaccination, with an exception for girls whose parents file a letter stating that participation is against their beliefs, the Sacramento Bee reports (Sanders, Sacramento Bee, 12/8). FDA in July approved Merck's HPV vaccine Gardasil for sale and marketing to girls and women ages nine to 26. According to Merck, the vaccine -- which is given in three injections over six months and costs $360 -- in clinical trials has been shown to be 100% effective in preventing HPV infection with strains 16 and 18, which together cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases, in women who do not already have the virus, and it is about 99% effective in preventing HPV strains 6 and 11, which together with strains 16 and 18 cause about 90% of genital wart cases. Gardasil also protects against vaginal and vulvar cancers, two other gynecological cancers that are linked to HPV, according to a study presented in June at a meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology in Atlanta (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 12/1). The legislation, which would take effect July 2008, does not seek to allocate state funding to cover the cost of the vaccine (Sacramento Bee, 12/8).

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