Lobbying in Amerika

It seems transparent that this is all about money:

"How much does it cost? The retail price of the vaccine is $120 per dose, or $360 for the full series. Local pediatric practices affiliated with Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters say most insurance companies are covering the cost of the vaccines. The American Academy of Pediatrics added the vaccine to its list of recommended immunizations earlier this month."

And for Hamilton to cynically remark that he was approached to sponsor the bill based on a Committee chairmanship is ludicrous, particularly when it's widely known that his campaign is significantly funded by pharmaceutical companies.

Va. considers requiring girls to get HPV vaccine
By ELIZABETH SIMPSON, The Virginian-Pilot
© January 18, 2007

Virginia could become one of the first states to require parents to either get their middle-school daughters vaccinated against viruses that can cause cervical cancer or apply for an exemption.

Del. Phillip Hamilton, R-Newport News, has introduced a bill that would add the human papillomavirus vaccine to the list of immunizations needed for school attendance.

Hamilton said pharmaceutical company representatives approached him about submitting the bill, probably because he chairs the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions. Drug companies have been among the largest contributors to Hamilton's election campaigns.

The House panel is scheduled to review HB1914 on Tuesday.

Under Hamilton's bill, the first of the three-dose vaccine series - which protects against a sexually transmitted disease - would need to be taken before girls' entry into middle school.

Although health providers have hailed the vaccine as a major breakthrough in the prevention of cervical cancer, there has been an undercurrent of concern about young girls being vaccinated against a sexually transmitted disease.

Hamilton said parents who objected to their daughters having the vaccine would be exempted from the requirement if they reviewed material about the vaccine and filled out a form. Children also could be exempted by parents and guardians for religious or medical reasons. The requirement would take effect in September 2008.

"As soon as I heard about the possibilities of it reducing the incidence of cancer, it was an easy decision" to introduce the bill, Hamilton said Wednesday.

Read all of it here.

h/t to the Pensito Review