Posted by
Billy on Friday, August 26, 2011 3:15:41 PM
GOP presidential candidate and Texas Governor Rick Perry is taking a lot of heat from some conservatives for issuing an executive order in 2007 that required middle-school-age girls to be vaccinated for HPV -- a sexually transmitted disease that is a main cause for cervical cancer. (See earlier story)
Dr. David Stevens, CEO of the Christian Medical Association (CMA), says his group sent a letter to Governor Perry at the time. While remaining neutral, the CMA told him they were not opposed to his mandate, as long it included an easy opt-out for parents -- which it did.
"In most states, and Texas is an example, it has to be a mandated vaccine before Medicaid and other children's programs will cover the cost of the vaccine," Dr. Stevens explains about his group's stance. "Of course, the most at-risk populations for getting cervical cancer and sexually-transmitted diseases are those who are impoverished, and therefore, sometimes difficult decisions have to be made to assure that they're going to get provision for them, while at the same time letting parents who don't want their kids to participate ... opt out."
Perry has since stated that issuing the order was a mistake -- and when the Texas legislature eventually overturned it, he gave his signature of approval.
(Billy's Thoughts>>> Even those in power will make mistakes. That is why we have to look at the long term of what they have done in office.)