URGENT ALERT: SB 080
SB 080 - Cervical Cancer Vaccine Mandate [PDF file]
\r\n\r\nSB 080, Sponsored by Senator Williams and Rep. Mike May, Concerning the Prevention of Cervical Cancer will be heard by the Senate Health and Human Services Committee tomorrow - Wednesday, Jan. 31st - in room 356 at 1:30 p.m. There are 3 other bills to be heard with SB 080 scheduled last. Anyone is welcome to testify.
\r\n\r\nSB 080 says -
No female student who is over 12 years of age shall attend any school in CO after July 1, 2008, unless she submits acceptable evidence to the school that she has been vaccinated for human papillomavirous or that, after receiving information about the link between human papillomavirus and cervical cancer and the availability of HPV vaccine the student's parent has elected for the student not to receive the vaccine. The Executive Director of the Department of Public Health and Environment will decide the content and appropriate forms.
\r\n\r\nCall the members of the Senate Health Committee, and send them an e-mail. Below are some talking points, with the main points being exemptions are not always honored and can be taken away and this vaccine should be voluntary.
\r\n\r\nYou may also want to respond to this article in the Rocky Mountain News with a letter to the editor:
\r\n\r\nhttp://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5315139,00.html
\r\n\r\nMembers of Senate Heath:
\r\n\r\nHagedorn (D) 303-866-4879 - SenBob@msn.com
\r\nBoyd (D) 303-866-4857 - betty.boyd.senate@state.co.us
\r\nMitchell (R) 303-866-4876 - shawn.Mitchell.senate@state.co.us
\r\nMorse (D) 303-866-6364 - john.morse.senate@state.co.us
\r\nRenfroe (R) 303-866-4451 - scott.renfroe.senate@state.co.us
\r\nSandoval (D) 303-866-4862 - paula.Sandoval.senate@state.co.us
\r\nSchultheis (R) 303-866-4835 - dave.schultheis.senate@state.co.us
\r\nShaffer (D) 303-866-5291 - Brandon@brandonshaffer.com
\r\nWard (R) 303-866-4846 - steve.ward.senate.@state.co.us
\r\n\r\n
Talking points:
\r\n\r\n
- Exemptions are not always honored in Colorado.
\r\n- There is no penalty for schools that don't inform parents of their rights to exemptions. Some colleges, preschools and daycares do not accept exemptions. Some aid programs do not accept personal exemptions.
\r\n- Exemptions may be taken away in order to reach Governor Ritter's immunization goals.
\r\n- The only way for this to be voluntary is to NOT MANDATE IT.
\r\n- Other states have made the vaccine available, but not passed a school mandate.
\r\n- HPV virus, as well as other sexually transmitted diseases can be avoided with abstinence.
\r\n- Mandates drive up the cost of government health programs and health insurance.
\r\n- Cancer screenings will still be required because the vaccine does not cover all types of the virus. Young girls may avoid getting a pap smear thinking the vaccine protects them.
\r\n- This mandate will include college students who are harassed especially hard and threatened with not being able to register for college classes for not having all required vaccines.
\r\n- The manufacturer states in the package insert "the duration of immunity is not known" boosters may be needed.
\r\n- The vaccine has not been proven safe or effective. See press release from NVIC, MERCK''S GARDASIL VACCINE NOT PROVEN SAFE FOR LITTLE GIRLS. National Vaccine Information Center Criticizes FDA for Fast Tracking Licensure
\r\n