Texas lawmakers rejected his anti-cancer order by sending Perry a bill that would block state officials from having to adhere to the requirement for at least the next four years.
An outrage had occurred among the legislature that Perry did not even consult with them before originally taking this action to mandate such a controversial order.
Perry was disappointed that his order was being shot down.
If Perry does not sign the bill or veto it within 10 days, the bill will automatically take effect without his signature. This would force the four-year waiting period before taking another look at this issue.
However, if Perry attempts to veto the bill, lawmakers can override it with a two-thirds vote of both chambers. This would undoubtedly occur, because legislation widely bypassed that margin in their initial vote.
The Texas legislature wants more time to pass to re-evaluate the risks and benefits of the new vaccine, although it has already been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Perry claimed the mandatory HPV vaccinations would help protect young girls by preventing them from getting cervical cancer.
From another perspective, discovery found that Perry has several ties to Merck, the manufacturer of the HPV vaccine. This discovery includes the receipt of $6,000 from Merck during Perry's campaign fund for re-election.
The HPV vaccine prevents two strains of HPV, which is a sexually transmitted disease. Research studies indicate that these two HPV strains result in approximately 70 percent of all cervical cancer cases. The vaccine has also shown prevention of pre-cancer cells, warts and lesions of a total of four strains of HPV.
However, HPV involves many other strains that are not covered by this vaccination. So, although Perry's spokeswoman stated that the governor is seeking to eradicate the virus through these vaccinations, this may not even be possible if all the schools girls were forced to be vaccinated.
Approximately fifty percent of all men and women have already become infected with one of the HPV strains at sometime in their lives, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some are unknowingly infected until they are diagnosed by a physician through some type of screening.
Many individuals and several groups have made known their total opposition to the promotion and further requirement of this vaccine. Their belief is that it will only encourage youngsters to have pre-marital sex.
These same opponents believe that forcing parents to abide by a ruling of this nature has enormous moral implications against our freedom of choice in the U.S.
Approximately 20 states have now introduced similar bills in line with Perry's order to require the vaccine. The state of Virginia is now the first state to approve such a bill to require the HPV vaccination for public school girls; however, it does include a clause allowing those parents/guardians in opposition the ability to decline.
