Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Cervical Cancer Vaccine For School-Age Girls
A cervical cancer vaccine would be added to the list of immunizations required for school-age girls under legislation that the House passed 56-37 today.
House Bill 396 as passed would allow parents or guardians to opt their children out of the vaccinations for any reason.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. David Watkins, D-Henderson, would also require the state to provide the public with education materials on the vaccine, cervical cancer and human papillomaviruses (HPV), the group of sexually transmitted viruses associated with the development of cervical cancer.
"There is no treatment for this once you get it, but there is prevention. And an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," Watkins said, adding that the vaccine prevents up to 70 percent of cervical cancer cases caused by HPV.
The target population for the vaccine--which is delivered in three doses at a total cost of $290 per person--is 9 to 26 year old females, although the bill would specifically target sixth-graders, Watkins said. Girls who are underinsured or uninsured would receive the vaccine from their local health departments.
Courtesy : General Assembly Website.
House Bill 396 as passed would allow parents or guardians to opt their children out of the vaccinations for any reason.
The bill, sponsored by Rep. David Watkins, D-Henderson, would also require the state to provide the public with education materials on the vaccine, cervical cancer and human papillomaviruses (HPV), the group of sexually transmitted viruses associated with the development of cervical cancer.
"There is no treatment for this once you get it, but there is prevention. And an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," Watkins said, adding that the vaccine prevents up to 70 percent of cervical cancer cases caused by HPV.
The target population for the vaccine--which is delivered in three doses at a total cost of $290 per person--is 9 to 26 year old females, although the bill would specifically target sixth-graders, Watkins said. Girls who are underinsured or uninsured would receive the vaccine from their local health departments.
Courtesy : General Assembly Website.
# posted by Joe Kinzer @ 10:33 PM 
