aTypical Joe: a gay New Yorker living in the rural South

Sunday, February 25, 2007

20 states consider eliminating HPV vaccine ban

I come rather late to the HPV vaccine controversy and join the fray after watching Texas Governor Rick Perry defend his position requiring “mandatory” vaccination of sixth-grade girls on Fox News Sunday this morning. Watching Perry I realized just how difficult it will be to move this nation towards Libertarian Paternalism, the idea “that private and public institutions might nudge people in directions that will make their lives go better, without eliminating freedom of choice.”

My predisposition was to support adoption of the HPV vaccine, my suspicious objection to Merck’s role in lobbying states for the provision having been allayed when Merck called off the HPV campaign. Watching Perry today it finally sunk in that this “mandatory” vaccine “requirement” has an opt-out provision. Thus, there is no mandate at all.

Rather, the default position of the state is changed to one whereby the vaccine is provided. By the logic of those who label Perry’s executive order a “mandate,” we could counter-claim that the government today has a ban in place denying the vaccine to sixth-grade girls.  And those 20 states considering bills to adopt the HPV vaccine are simply considering eliminating the ban.

They have my full support.

Note: My position does not absolve the state of its obligation to ensure safety and efficacy. I’m fine with that debate; I object to biasing its outcome with the “mandatory” label.