Senate Bill 102: HPV Vaccination Required for Girls

Sponsor:
Senator Richard T. Moore (D)

Summary:
Senate Bill 102 requires girls entering 6th grade in a public or non-public school to be vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV). The bill does not provide an exemption specifically for the HPV vaccine, but Massachusetts immunization law does allow a parent to refuse the vaccine for a child if it conflicts with his sincere religious beliefs.

Status:

1/10/2007		(Senate) Filed
1/10/2007		(Senate) Referred to Joint Committee on Children and Families
1/10/2007		(House) House Concurred in Committee Referral
3/29/2007		(Senate) Discharged and Referred to Joint Committee on Health Care Financing
4/2/2007		(House) House Concurred in Committee Referral
5/2/2007		(House) Hearing Scheduled JHC for July 11
1/23/2008		(House) Accompanied Study Order Joint Committee on Health Care Financing

HSLDA's Position:
Oppose. We believe that immunizations, particularly immunizations of this nature, should not be forced upon children. Individual families should be allowed to decide whether they want their children to receive them. At this time, Massachusetts law allows parents to refuse the vaccination.

Action Requested:
None at this time.

Background:
Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is a group of viruses that have about 100 different strains or types. Over 30 of these viruses are sexually transmitted.

The vaccine, Gardasil, will not cure or treat HPV. There is currently no cure for these sexually transmitted viruses. Even the FDA and the CDC admit the only “cure” is abstinence before marriage and a monogamous relationship during marriage.

HSLDA believes that parents should be the ones to determine whether this immunization is right for their daughters, and it should not be forced upon them by the legislature. This is more of a parental rights issue than a homeschool issue. However, it is vitally important that homeschool families take a stand for parental freedom in Massachusetts.

While the body’s immune system deals with most HPV infections and no symptoms occur, there are several types that can cause cancer or genital warts. For more information about HPV see the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s information.

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