The anti-supporters of the vaccination program in Legislation fear such a requirement would forgive premarital sex and interfere with the ethics and morals of the children.
According to the new rule, it is mandatory for all girls entering the sixth grade or between 11 and 12 to receive Gardasil, Merck and Co.'s new vaccine against strains of the human papillomavirus, or HPV.
The state health authorities are working to make the vaccine available free to girls between 9 to 18 who are uninsured or whose insurance does not cover vaccines. In addition, Gardasil would be offered to women between ages 19 to 21 through Medicaid.
Perry, a conservative Christian who is against abortion and stem-cell research using embryonic cells is quoted by AP as saying, "The HPV vaccine provides us with an incredible opportunity to effectively target and prevent cervical cancer."
According to Perry spokeswoman Krista Moody, the new order is effective until Perry or a successor changes it, and the Legislature has no authority to repeal it. The federal government approved Gardasil in June and a government advisory panel has also recommended that all girls get vaccinated at 11 and 12, before they attain sexual development.
