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| Date: From: Subject: | 2/27/2007 5:38:34 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Colorado: Bill Requires New Immunization Reporting For Pre-Teen Girls |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== February 27, 2007 Colorado: Bill Requires New Immunization Reporting For Pre-Teen Girls Dear HSLDA members and friends, The Colorado Legislature is considering a bill that would require all female students over the age of 12 to receive information about the link between human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer, and the availability of the HPV vaccine. These girls would then have to present evidence that they have been immunized against four types of the human papillomavirus (HPV) that are mainly transmitted by sexual contact or evidence that the parent has elected for the girl to not receive the vaccine. Immunizing young girls with a vaccine that is being questioned by doctors about its lack of effectiveness should not be paid for by taxpayer dollars. Even the pharmaceutical company, Merck, is no longer lobbying for these bills, such as S.B. 80, because of the short-term effectiveness of this vaccine. Senate Bill 80 has passed the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services and has been sent to the Senate Appropriations Committee for a hearing on Friday, March 2, at 7:30 a.m., Room SCR 356. The Appropriations Committee will only address cost and funding issues. If it passes the Appropriations Committee, it will be heard by the full Senate. We are working with Treon Goossen with Concerned Parents of Colorado to oppose this bill. REQUESTED ACTION: Please contact the members of the Senate Appropriations Committee and give them this message in your own words: "Please oppose Senate Bill 80 which mandates that virtually all young girls to be immunized against HPV. Immunizing young girls with a vaccine that is being questioned by doctors about its lack of effectiveness should not be paid for by taxpayer dollars. Even the pharmaceutical company, Merck, is no longer lobbying for these bills, such as S.B. 80, because of the short-term effectiveness of this vaccine." Please do not identify yourself as a homeschooler but instead can call as a concerned parent and constituent. Senate Appropriations Committee: Chair: Senator Abel Tapia (D) 303-866-2581 abel.tapia.senat@state.co.us Vice Chair: Senator Maryanne (Moe) Keller, (D) 303-866-2585 moe.keller.senate@state.co.us Greg Brophy, (R) 303-866-6360 greg@gregbrophy.net Peter Groff, (D) 303-866-4864 peter.groff.senate@state.co.us Ted Harvey, (R) 303-866-4881 ted.harvey.senate@state.co.us Steve Johnson, (R) 303-866-4853 steve.johnson.senate@state.co.us Mike Kopp, (R) 303-866-4859 mike.kopp.senate@state.co.us Stephanie Takis, (D) 303-866-4855 stephanie.takis.senate@state.co.us 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. While most HPV infections are dealt with by the body's immune system and no symptoms occur, there are several types that can cause cervical cancer or genital warts. For more information about HPV see the Center for Disease Control and Prevention information here: http://www.cdc.gov/std/HPV/STDFact-HPV.htm . Those who are most likely to get HPV are those who have sex at an early age, have many sex partners, or have a sex partner who has had many partners. However, the only FDA approved HPV vaccine, Gardasil, (http://www.gardasil.com/ ) is not a cure for HPV or cervical cancer. Instead the vaccine seeks to prevent the four specific types of HPV (6, 11, 16, and 18) which are responsible for 70% of cervical cancers and 90% of genital warts. There is currently no cure for these sexually transmitted viruses. Even the FDA and the CDE admit the only "cure" is abstinence before marriage and a monogamous relationship during marriage. There have been no long-term studies of the HPV vaccine. Children in the 9-year-old age group have been monitored for only 18 months and there have been no studies on the carcinogenic risk or the general toxicity of the vaccine itself. From July 2006 to the end of 2006, there were 385 unique reports of adverse events filed with the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) following the receipt of the vaccine. For a full review of these reports please see http://www.909shot.com/Diseases/HPV/HPVRPT2.htm . Additionally, there is some concern that rushing to mandate the HPV vaccine for pre-teen girls will not have the intended affect of preventing cervical cancer. Early immunization may not be effective because the vaccine could wear off before the person is most susceptible. Gardasil has only been proven to have a 5 years of proven effectiveness. While there appears to be a 10-to-15-year incubation period for certain HPV types potentially becoming cervical cancer, the average age a woman contracts cervical cancer is in her mid 40s. For more information see http://washingtontimes.com/national/20070221-123326-7587r.htm . Over the past few months, Merck, the pharmaceutical manufacturer of Gardasil, has lobbied vigorously to mandate the HPV vaccine for middle school age girls. At present there are over 34 states where HPV bills have been introduced. Several state legislatures have defeated Due to all of the concerns raised about mandating the Gardasil vaccine to middle school age girls Merck has abandoned its efforts to lobby state legislatures to require the vaccine. Thank you for your time to make the call on behalf of freedom of private schools in Colorado. Sincerely, Christopher J. Klicka HSLDA Senior Counsel ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> What's the shortest distance between two homeschoolers? HSLDA's elert service! When threats to homeschool freedoms arise, you want to be able to respond. We make it possible. 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