Trenton, NJ - The NJ Senate Health, Human Services and SeniorCitizens Committee made a major reversal today in its proposed SenateBill #2286 which would have mandated vaccinating all girls in NewJersey public schools from the 7th grade on in addition to creating apublic awareness campaign. "The committee saw the light after they feltthe heat I m sure," stated Len Deo, Founder and President of the NewJersey Family Policy Council (NJFPC) who was in attendance andtestified on the bill. "The original bill proposed would have mandatedthese vaccinations without parental approval and we find that adramatic intrusion by government into the area of parental rights andthe primacy parents have in the raising and nurturing of theirchildren," Deo added.

"Many other states have dealt with thisissue and there was a huge backlash by families in Texas when GovernorRick Perry attempted to mandate the vaccines by executive order. Butthe people spoke out through their elected representatives," Deocontinued. "I was a little befuddled that our legislature would attemptto do the same thing that has brought such an outcry from families inother states with regard to mandating the vaccine for a disease whichis generally spread by sexual activities," Deo further added.

Anumber of medical experts have been quoted on this issue. One of them,Dr. John Abramson, Chairman, Centers for Disease Control, AdvisoryCommittee on Immunization (ACIP). "I told Merck my personal opinionthat it should not be mandated and they heard it from [ACIP] committeemembers. The vaccines out there now are for very communicable diseases.A child in school is not at an increased risk for HPV like she is formeasles."

"We were greatly encouraged by the actions of theSenate Health Committee and remain cautiously optimistic that we willnot have to revisit the issue to mandate this vaccine in the future. Itruly believe that when the rights of parents are upheld when it comesto their children it is a good day," Deo continued. "We do not need tobe adding more laws that undermine parental authority and I believe itwas a very important decision made today by the Senators on thecommittee. While we believe that the vaccine should have widespreadavailability, we remain strongly opposed to mandating its use withoutmedical, religious, philosophical and moral objections. The SenateCommittee chose the higher road and that is with an education campaignand then to leave the choice, especially for minor girls, up to theparents or legal guardians," concluded Deo.

The NJFPC is aneducation and research organization dedicated to building strongfamilies and defending parent s rights and the primacy of parents whenit comes to decisions involving their children. The NJFPC works incooperation with Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, the FamilyResearch Council, Washington, DC and the Alliance Defense Fund,Scottsdale, AZ., in addition to 35 other state based family policycouncils.

Journal of American Medical Association's statement:

STDS : JAMA EDITORIALIZES AGAINST MANDATORY HPV VACCINE
POSTED: MAY 09, 2007

[Abstinence Clearinghouse E-Mail Update 5/9/07]
In its May 2, 2007 issue, the Journal of the American MedicalAssociation editorializes against requiring an HPV vaccine in order toattend public school. Noting limited safety and efficacy data, legalissues involving possible adverse effects of the vaccine, a $360 pricetag, the means of transmission of HPV, and the requirement that onlyfemales be immunized, the journal supports voluntary use of the vaccinewithout state-enforced mandates.

The editorial states, “Given that the overall prevalence of HPV typesassociated with cervical cancer is relatively low (3.4%)4 and that thelong-term effects are unknown, it is unwise to require a young girlwith a very low lifetime risk of cervical cancer to be vaccinatedwithout her assent and her parent's consent. Consider the information aclinician can honestly provide to a 12-year-old girl to obtain herassent: "The 3 injections will probably protect you from an infectionthat you can only get from sexual contact, but research has not shownhow long the protection will last or whether it might have rare badeffects on your health."

(Source: “Mandatory HPV Vaccination: Public Health vs Private Wealth,” JAMA, 05-02-07)

###