OLYMPIA – Starting in May, girls in Washington will be able to get a vaccine at no cost to protect against a sexually transmitted virus that can cause cervical cancer, if lawmakers commit to paying for the program.
But unlike proposals in Texas and some other states, Washington’s program would not mandate that girls have the vaccine.
The state Department of Health is requesting about $14.3 million over the next two years for the vaccine which, combined with federal money, would make the vaccine available to about 94,000 girls ages 9 to 18.
“We want to make sure it’s available and that people are educated about it and make good, informed choices,” said state Health Secretary Mary Selecky.
Parents would still have to pay doctor visit fees, but the cost of the three-dose vaccine – about $360 – would be picked up by the state.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, at least 23 states and the District of Columbia have introduced measures to mandate the HPV vaccine for school, but some of those bills have been withdrawn.
Gov. Chris Gregoire’s health care adviser, Christina Hulet, said Gregoire felt the vaccine should not be a mandate.
“The governor felt that the state’s role is to provide access to the vaccine and then allow parents to make a decision about whether to access this particular vaccine,” Hulet said.
Other than money in the budget for the vaccine, the only measure moving through the Washington Legislature related to HPV would require all public schools in the state to provide information about the virus and vaccine to parents and guardians when a child begins the sixth grade.
The state Senate passed an amended version of a House bill Friday, 48-0. The House has to agree to the changes before the bill heads to Gregoire for signing into law.
The main area of contention during House debate on the bill was whether private schools would be required to distribute information. Some Republicans argued it was a mandate that private schools were not comfortable with.
The Senate amended the bill to require private schools to let parents know the information about the virus and vaccine was available to pick up, but would not require it be handed out at school.
“You have to give some deference to people,” said Rep. Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum, minority ranking member of the House Health Care and Wellness Committee.
The bill’s House sponsor, Rep. Jeannie Darneille, D-Tacoma, said the House would probably agree to the amendment.
“It wasn’t how I originally wrote it, but it’s OK,” she said. “I think lives will be saved because of this.”
Darneille said lawmakers decided not to introduce a mandate this session after watching the idea flounder in some other states.
“I thought that this was a middle ground to start with, without having the issue derailed by the discussion of another mandate,” she said.
Hinkle said he was glad the state had taken the more reserved approach because there are still concerns over the long-term effects of the vaccine and how long it remains effective.
“I think a more measured approach, for those reasons, is very important,” Hinkle said.
An estimated 20 million Americans are infected with the HPV, making it the nation’s most common sexually transmitted disease. Most cases of cervical cancer are linked to certain strains of the virus.
Gardasil, a three-dose vaccine by Merck &Co., was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last June for females age 9 to 26. The vaccine protects against strains of HPV, which cause cervical, vulvar and vaginal cancers and genital warts.
Under pressure from parents and medical groups, Merck said in February it would suspend a behind-the-scenes lobbying campaign to get states to require it for school-age girls.
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
