KLTV 7 News Tyler, Longview, Jacksonville |Governor Perry Orders Texas School Girls Get HPV Vaccine

Governor Perry Orders Texas School Girls Get HPV Vaccine

Governor Rick Perry issued the order making Texas the first state to require the shots to protect against strains of the Human Papilloma Virus. This means girls will have to get Merck's new vaccine- Gardasil.  The vaccine, would be required for girls 11 or 12 years old before they enter school in September of 2008. You may remember back in June, the federal government approved Gardasil and a government advisory panel recommended that all girls get the shots before they are likely to be sexually active. Some parents say this is a good thing while other says it's stepping on parental rights and in some ways approving sexual activity.  

"I don't think it should be mandatory.  I think it should be up to the mom and dad opinion wether to give it to their daughters or not," says Stephanie Sanchez, Mother.

"It is really up to every parent, personally it is hard.  In a way I would agree with it. Really it is something that it is up to the parent, for mine I would agree with it," says Sylvia Perez, Mother.

Parents may opt out of this mandatory vaccination for religious beliefs.  Right now, the HPV vaccine is $360 for a series of 3 shots. However, some doctors says with this executive order the cost should drop.

Karolyn Davis, reporting.  kdavis@kltv.com