Actions Taken On HPV Vaccine Proposals In California, Texas; Washington

The following highlights recent state news related to human papillomavirus vaccines. Merck's HPV vaccine Gardasil and GlaxoSmithKline's HPV vaccine Cervarix in clinical trials have been shown to be 100% effective in preventing infection with HPV strains 16 and 18, which together cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases. FDA in July 2006 approved Gardasil for sale and marketing to girls and women ages nine to 26, and CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices later that month voted unanimously to recommend that girls ages 11 and 12 receive the vaccine. GSK in April plans to file for FDA approval of Cervarix, and it expects approval by the end of this year. CDC has added Gardasil to its Vaccines for Children Program, which provides no-cost immunizations to children ages nine to 18 covered by Medicaid, Alaska Native and American Indian children, and some uninsured and underinsured children (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 3/1). Summaries appear below.

California: Assembly member Ed Hernandez (D) on Tuesday withdrew consideration of a bill (AB 16) that would require all California girls entering the seventh grade to receive an HPV vaccine so he can consider revisions to the measure, the Sacramento Bee reports (Benson, Sacramento Bee, 3/14). The legislation, which would take effect in July 2008, includes an exception for girls whose parents file a letter stating that participation is against their beliefs. It does not seek to allocate state funding to cover the cost of the vaccine (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 12/11/06). The measure was originally authored by Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Sally Lieber (D), but she dropped the legislation because her family owned Merck stock, the San Francisco Chronicle reports. Assembly Health Committee members from both parties during a hearing on Tuesday expressed concerns about the legislation, including a lack of information on how parents could opt their daughters out of the requirement, how to pay for vaccinations and the novelty of the vaccines. Hernandez said he will "try to meet with every single (committee) member to address their concerns" and reintroduce a revised measure next month for the committee to consider (Yi, San Francisco Chronicle, 3/14).














Texas: The House on Wednesday voted 118-23 to pass a bill (HB 1098) that would halt any mandatory HPV vaccination program for girls in school, the Houston Chronicle reports (Elliott/Hernandez, Houston Chronicle, 3/14). Gov. Rick Perry (R) on Feb. 2 issued an executive order that mandates that all girls entering the sixth grade beginning in September 2008 receive an HPV vaccine. Perry has said the executive order will allow parents who do not want their daughters to receive an HPV vaccine "for reasons of conscience, including religious beliefs," to opt out of the requirement. Under the executive order, girls and women ages nine to 21 who are eligible for public assistance will be able to receive Merck's HPV vaccine Gardasil at no cost beginning immediately (Kaiser Daily Women's Health Policy Report, 3/13). The Senate is expected to hold a committee hearing on the measure soon, the Austin American-Statesman reports (Selby, Austin American-Statesman, 3/13). Perry's office did not say whether the governor would veto the measure if the Senate approved it (Frosh, New York Times, 3/14).

Washington: The House on Monday voted 73-22 to approve a bill (HB 1802) that would require all schools in the state to provide information about HPV and HPV vaccines, the Spokane Spokesman Review reports. Under the bill, all public and private schools would be required to give parents of children entering the sixth grade information on HPV, its symptoms and causes, and places where vaccines can be obtained. The bill, which is sponsored by Rep. Jeannie Darneille (D), now goes to the Senate (Spokane Spokesman Review, 3/14).

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View drug information on Cervarix [Human Papillomavirus Bivalent; Gardasil.