Merck, the maker of the new vaccine to protect against the strains of the HPV virus that cause cervical cancer, succumbed to pressure from Christian groups to cease lobbying for mandatory vaccination programs. As Salon put it, “New [Parenting] Rule: If you don’t think your daughter getting cancer is worse than your daughter having sex, then you’re doing it wrong.” (The other metaphors in this article are a bit, err, saltier, but it’s laugh-out-loud funny.)
The only state Merck had persuaded was Texas, where Governor Rick “Goodhair” Perry circumvented the legislature and mandated vaccines by executive order. Lawmakers are now rallying to supersede his order because they’re more frightened of their daughters having sex than they are of them getting cancer.
It’s not clear if Merck had made significant headway in New Mexico when it called off its lobbying efforts, but the legislature there has delivered a bill to Governor Bill Richardson’s desk. Richardson, whom Jonathan would like to see become Secretary of State, has said he will sign the bill.
