Groups use Bachmann’s claims against Perry, Merck to urge veto of Calif. HPV-vaccine bill

Despite the backlash GOP presidential hopeful Michele Bachmann has received this week for blasting fellow contender Texas Gov. Rick Perry for his (failed) attempt to mandate human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccinations for pre-teen girls in 2007 during Monday’s tea party debate, the Minnesota congresswoman’s refusal to turn the page could have lasting effects for states trying to enact HPV-vaccine-related legislation.

One such example is California, where bill that would allow minors 12 years of age or older to consent to medical care related to the prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) awaits Gov. Jerry Brown’s signature.

If Brown signs Assembly Bill 499 (PDF), minors 12 and over will be able to access hepatitis B vaccine and post-exposure prophylactic HIV medication without parental consent. Christian and “pro-life” groups throughout the state have protested this bill since the state Legislature passed it, calling it “anti-parent.” Yet Bachmann’s recent attack on the vaccine (linking it to mental retardation, based on unsubstantiated claims) and suggesting Perry’s interest in vaccinating girls was financially motivated has fueled groups with more arguments to encourage the governor to veto the bill.

On Friday, the San Francisco-based group Catholics for Common Good (CCG) released a media advisory appealing for the veto of AB 499 and listing among the reasons against the law, “Parallels with the issue hounding Texas Governor Rick Perry.” In fact, the group focused mostly on the connections Bachmann drew between Perry and Merck, the manufacturer of the HPV vaccine Gardasil, to criticize the California bill, which has been dubbed the “Gardasil bill” by opponents, despite the fact that the bill relates to all STDs, not just HPV.

Some of CCG’s arguments:

• “Creation of the broadest 12-17 year old market possible for Merck by including inoculation of boys, although Gardasil is only on the CDC immunization schedule for girls (1.usa.gov/dnUYnR).”
• “The bill could mean up to $30 million in sales for Merck at federal expense.”
• “Why must Merck pursue legal mandates or laws to go around parents to sell their vaccine?”

The bill authors predicted that if between 5 and 10 percent of the 923,000 Californians ages 12 through 17 that qualify for the vaccinations take the shots, administrative costs could be between $1.2 million and $2.5 million, 50 percent of which would be paid out of the state’s general fund.

In the long run, however, the Legislature predicts money will be saved if even costlier treatment for STDs can be minimized. From the bill’s fiscal analysis:

According to the Department of Health Care Services, Medi-Cal expenditures of $379 million were incurred in 2009-10 for the Minor Consent Program, which serves on average 130,600 individuals between the ages of 12 and 19, and provides over 128,000 minors with family planning and/or sexually transmitted disease diagnosis and treatment services. Due to the authorization of preventive services to minors provided for in this bill, there could be substantial future cost savings to the Medi-Cal and HFP programs in the millions of dollars to the extent that immunizations and other medical care lead to decreased incidences of disease, diagnosis, and treatment costs.