Merck made the decision to reconsider their lobbying efforts after the outrage by many parents and conservative groups to the recent decision of Texas Governor Rick Perry. The Texas governor had mandated that the vaccine would be required for all school-aged girls entering the sixth grade in 2008 in his state.
However, Merck will continue to push their position on the educational benefits of Gardasil. They still plan to encourage females to use the vaccine to prevent cervical cancer through their "One Less" campaign.
The Gardasil vaccine was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2006 to prevent two strains of the human papillomavirus (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.
Those individuals and groups who are against the decision to promote this vaccine believe that it will only encourage youngsters to have pre-marital sex. These same opponents believe the requirement to force parents to abide by a ruling of this nature has enormous moral implications against our freedom of choice in the U.S.
Merck originally announced the launch of their national print, television and online advertising campaign for the Gardasil vaccine (the world's first of its kind) on November 13, 2006.
