Political Intrigue in Merck’s Push for Mandatory HPV Vaccinations
By Dan Childs, ABC News Medical Unit
Feb. 22, 2007
Drugmaker Backs Off Vaccination Campaign; New Report Reveals Contributions to Texas Governor
The manufacturer of Gardasil, the first-ever vaccine shown to prevent cervical cancer, is facing growing opposition to the product’s widespread use among pre-teen girls.
But many of the problems are political, not medical. According to documents obtained by The Associated Press, Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s chief of staff met with key aides about the human papillomavirus vaccine the same day drug giant Merck & Co, the manufacturer of the vaccine, donated several thousand dollars to his campaign.
Chief of staff Deirdre Delisi’s calendar shows she met with the governor’s budget director and three members of his office for an “HPV Vaccine for Children Briefing” on Oct. 16, according to The AP report. That same day, the documents show, Merck’s political action committee donated $5,000 to Perry and $5,000 total to eight state lawmakers.
The revelation may provide ammunition to those in many states who oppose mandatory vaccination campaigns for pre-teen girls. On Wednesday, a House committee voted to rescind Perry’s executive order requiring vaccination for girls in Texas.
Meanwhile, conservative family groups in Minnesota have criticized similar proposed requirements there, maintaining that such a plan would encourage promiscuity.
And in Connecticut, state health officials say they are concerned similar proposed legislation would be premature, citing a lack of available safety data.
The developments have added a new round of political heat that Merck had sought to avoid. Merck announced Feb. 20 that it would suspend its own campaign urging states to implement mandatory vaccination programs for pre-teen girls with its human papillomavirus vaccine.
In its announcement, Merck said it made the move to avoid having its campaign take attention away from the bills being drafted in several states that would make the vaccine mandatory for pre-teen girls.
“We … do not want any misperception about Merck’s role to distract from the ultimate goal of fighting cervical cancer, so Merck has re-evaluated its approach at the state level and we will not lobby for school requirements for Gardasil,” said Mary Elizabeth Blake, senior director of public affairs for the Merck vaccine division, in a prepared, e-mailed statement.
November 30th, 2008 at 8:29 am
[...] | Bush To Veto Ban On Mercury In Vaccines | Government knew of HIV risk from imported blood | Political Intrigue in Merck’s Push for Mandatory HPV Vaccinations | Polio Warning Issued for Travel to Nigeria | Bayer Continued Selling Contaminated Blood Product [...]
January 15th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
[...] from fiction in the Cornwall sex abuse scandal | Anthrax Coverup: A Government Insider Speaks Out | Political Intrigue in Merck’s Push for Mandatory HPV Vaccinations | Report details RCMP agent offences shielded by new law | Accused RCMP officer says force acted [...]
March 18th, 2009 at 11:29 pm
[...] from fiction in the Cornwall sex abuse scandal | Anthrax Coverup: A Government Insider Speaks Out | Political Intrigue in Merck’s Push for Mandatory HPV Vaccinations | Report details RCMP agent offences shielded by new law | Accused RCMP officer says force acted [...]
April 13th, 2009 at 4:58 am
[...] from fiction in the Cornwall sex abuse scandal | Anthrax Coverup: A Government Insider Speaks Out | Political Intrigue in Merck’s Push for Mandatory HPV Vaccinations | Report details RCMP agent offences shielded by new law | Accused RCMP officer says force acted [...]
April 24th, 2009 at 4:26 pm
[...] from fiction in the Cornwall sex abuse scandal | Anthrax Coverup: A Government Insider Speaks Out | Political Intrigue in Merck’s Push for Mandatory HPV Vaccinations | Report details RCMP agent offences shielded by new law | Accused RCMP officer says force acted [...]
April 24th, 2009 at 10:29 pm
[...] Flashback: Did Pharma Giant with Gardasil HPV Patents Buy Nobel Prize? | Political Intrigue in Merck’s Push for Mandatory HPV Vaccinations [...]
April 25th, 2009 at 12:04 am
[...] Flashback: Vioxx, Gardasil maker Merck and Co drew up doctor hit list | Vaccine Court: Autism Debate Continues | Did Pharma Giant with Gardasil HPV Patents Buy Nobel Prize? | Revealed: The serious health concerns about the cervical cancer jab | Ottawa knew breast implants harmful, case alleges | Government knew of HIV risk from imported blood | Political Intrigue in Merck’s Push for Mandatory HPV Vaccinations [...]
May 2nd, 2009 at 10:10 am
[...] from fiction in the Cornwall sex abuse scandal | Anthrax Coverup: A Government Insider Speaks Out | Political Intrigue in Merck’s Push for Mandatory HPV Vaccinations | Report details RCMP agent offences shielded by new law | Accused RCMP officer says force acted [...]
June 4th, 2009 at 10:03 am
[...] [...]
July 27th, 2009 at 12:31 am
[...] [...]
October 25th, 2009 at 6:02 am
[...] [...]
July 21st, 2010 at 11:26 am
[...] Flashback: Vioxx, Gardasil maker Merck and Co drew up doctor hit list | U.S. again denies approval to expand use of Gardasil vaccine | Did Pharma Giant with Gardasil HPV Patents Buy Nobel Prize? | Report urges long-term funding for HPV vaccine | Revealed: The serious health concerns about the cervical cancer jab | Study finds higher rate of reactions to HPV shot | Researchers Question Wide Use of HPV Vaccines | CDC reports almost 8,000 adverse reactions to “Gardasil” HPV vaccine in U.S. | Is HPV Vaccine to Blame for a Teen’s Paralysis? | Alberta to offer HPV vaccine this fall | Discovery of HPV in male oral cancers leads to vaccination call | HPV vaccination program raises concerns in B.C. | Gardasil shots have earned a painful reputation | Perspective on the HPV vaccine | Deaths associated with Merck’s HPV vaccine (Gardasil), over 3500 adverse affects reported | Political Intrigue in Merck’s Push for Mandatory HPV Vaccinations [...]