s have been filed that, if passed, would override the mandate. Perry argued that his decision would neither interfere with parents' rights nor promote premarital sex.

Perry has ordered the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to adopt rules requiring Merck's Gardasil vaccine for girls entering the sixth grade beginning in September 2008. Perry also directed state health authorities to make the vaccine available to uninsured girls for free.

Parents can opt out of these inoculations by filing an affidavit objecting to the vaccine on religious or philosophical grounds.

Yahoo News February 5, 2007

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Dr. Mercola's Comment:

Texas is now the first state to require girls to receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine Gardasil.

Not surprisingly, Merck, the vaccine's maker, has been lobbying there intensely; in fact, a key Merck lobbyist, a man named Mike Toomey, actually served as the governor's chief of staff, and Merck contributed $6,000 to Governor Perry's successful reelection campaign.

Merck has been lobbying in 18 states across the country. So, if you're thinking that this only applies to people in Texas, think again. The lobbyists have likely been hard at work in your state too!

In case you aren't familiar with HPV, it's a sexually transmitted disease that's virtually 100 percent avoidable without a vaccine.

Additionally, most cases of the infection clear up on their own. HPV can be overcome by means such as adequate sunlight exposure and vitamin D consumption, supplementation with probiotics, adequate intake of selenium and zinc, increased consumption of trace minerals and iodine, and regular physical exercise.

The Gardasil vaccine, however, has only been on the market since June 2006, and there are already 82 reports of serious adverse events filed with the FDA following the administration of this vaccine.

You can also help spread the word about this worthless vaccine by writing letters to your local newspapers and calling in to voice your opinion on TV and radio shows. Consumer advocacy group PROVE (Parents Requesting Open Vaccine Education) has put together a useful list of talking points for those who are interested.

Also, in another positive move, the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) will be sending a letter of opposition to the Texas governor.

It's being signed by a newly formed coalition of medical, taxpayer, privacy, civil liberties, health freedom, and good government groups called the "Hands Off Our Kids Coalition." The major reasons for their objections to the HPV vaccine mandate are straightforward and right on target:

1. This vaccine mandate violates parental rights, informed consent, and privacy

2. The efficacy and safety of this specific vaccine are unproven

3. It is an unjustified expansion of the taxpayers' burden

4. It constitutes an unwarranted overreaching of executive power

5. It violates sunshine-in-government

On Vital Votes, Stephen from Fairmont, West Virginia points out:

"CNN calls the HPV vaccine a 'stunning advance in medical science'. As proof they cite the fact that 6 million women contract HPV every year and 3700 die from cervical cancer. Doing the math, we find that 99.9375% or 1 in 1600 women contracting HPV do not contract cervical cancer. The safest vaccine on the planet is far more dangerous than 1 in 1600 adverse reactions.

"Aspirin is almost as dangerous as cervical cancer as thousands die from aspirin poisoning every year caused by intestinal bleeding and overdosing. 20-40,000 people a year go on dialysis from Tylenol poisoning. Tylenol is 10 times more dangerous than the HPV virus. The medical establishment can't count."

Other responses to this article can be viewed at Vital Votes, and you can add your own thoughts or vote on comments by first registering at Vital Votes.