Gardasil is a drug produced by Merck that protects against protects against the initial establishment of HPV types 16, 18, 6, and 11. It was approved for use by the FDA in June of 2006 and is administrered in three shots which each cost $120. With a 165,000 children in Texas a year at this age, this means the cost to administer the drug would be between $55 and $60 million a year.
Governor Rick Perry issued an executive order on February, 2 2007 that mandated that all Texas girls ages 11 and 12 be vaccinated with Gardasill as they enter the sixth grade. The order allowed the parents to opt out of the shot. The order also made Gardasil immediately available to eligible young females through the Texas Vaccines for Children program for young women ages 9 to 18, and through Medicaid for women ages 19 to 21.
Mike Toomey was Rick Perry's chief of staff from November 2002 to September 2004. Upon leaving this position, Mr Toomey became a partner for the Texas Lobby Group. He was Merck's sole lobbyist in Texas and one of his chief functions was to achieve a state mandate for Merck vaccines. Between 2005 and 2010, Merck paid Toomey between $260,000 and $535,000 and is now the head of his Super Pac for his 2012 Presidential campaign.
On October 16, 2006 Perry's next chief of staff, Deirdre Delisi, met with key aides in a "Merck HPV Vaccine update." That same day, Merck & Co.'s political action committee donated $5,000 to Perry and $5,000 total to eight state lawmakers.
Merck also funded a group called Women in Govenment. This group advocated on a number of issues, including attempting to get states to enact a mandate for children to take Gardasil. The Texas state director of WIG was Republican state Rep. Dianne White Delisi. Dianne Delisi is the mother-in-law of Governor Perry's chief of staff Deidre Delisi.
Between January of 2006 and July of 2011, Merck gave a total of $377,500 to the Republican Governor's association and a total of $28,500 to Governor Perry between January of 2001 and July of 2011. Merck also donated a total of $4 million to the Republican Governor's association while Governor Perry was in charge of that organization.
In April of 2007, the Texas Legislature passed HB 1098, which repealed the mandate put in place by Governor Perry. On February 20 of that year, numerous cancer patients testified in favor of keeping the mandate. One of those people was Heather Burcham, although she was too weak to testify when her time finally arrived. Governor Perry becames friends with Mrs Burcham and in a speech after her passing, he notes that he met her when she came to testify on February 20, 2007.
Governor Perry was repeatedly questioned by other candidates during the Republican debates at the Reagan library, the CNN TEA Party debate, and the Fox News / Google debate. He admitted that the process used to enact the requirement was probably not the best course of action and stated that it was not a mandate as an opt out was available to parents. He stated that he had erred on the side of life and that he was not sorry about that. In the Fox News / Google debate, Governor Perry stated that he had met a 31 year old cervical cancer patient who had lobbied him to go forward with the mandate. This was a reference to Mrs Burcham, even though his speech on the official Governor of Texas website notes they met after the mandate was put in place.
As of June 22, 2011, approximately 35 million doses of Gardasil® were distributed in the U.S. and VAERS received a total of 18,727 reports of adverse events following Gardasil® vaccination: 17,958 reports among females and 346 reports for males, of which 285 reports were received after the vaccine was licensed for males in October 2009. VAERS received 423 reports of unknown gender. Of the total number of VAERS reports following Gardasil®, 92% were considered to be non-serious, and 8% were considered serious.
Timeline
Jun 8, 2006 - Gardaso; approved by the FDA
Oct 16, 2006 - Governor Perry's Chief of Staff, Deirdre Delisi, met with key aides about Gardasil
Oct 16, 2006 - Merck makes $5,000 donation to Perry campaign
Feb 2, 2007 - Governor Perry issues executive order mandating girls 11-12 be vaccinated with Gardasil
Feb 20, 2007 - Testimony is given by those opposing HB 1098 - Governor Perry meets Heather Burcham
May 8, 2007 - HB 1098 is signed into law, over-riding the mandate from the order
Gardasil
The FDA approved Gardasil for use by Merck in June of 2006. Gardasil protects against the initial establishment of HPV types 16, 18, 6, and 11. HPV, or human papillomavirus disease, is a virus that can be contracted via unprotected intercourse. In women, the virus is the primary cause of cervical cancer and it can cause genital warts in both males and females. The drug was approved to be used in females 9 to 26 years of age and claims that it can protect against 75% of cervical cancer cases, 70% of vaginal cancer, 50% of vulvar cancer cases, and 90% of genital warts cases.
Gardasil is given in three 0.5 milliliter injections over six months. The second injection is two months after the first, and the third injection is four months after the second shot was administered. Each injection costs $120, bringing the total cost for immunization to $360 per person.
The length of time that Gardasil remains effective is not fully known. It has been established that it does protect for at least 4-5 years.
Lobbyist Influence
Mike Toomey was Rick Perry's chief of staff from November 2002 to September 2004. Upon leaving this position, Mr Toomey became a partner for the Texas Lobby Group. He is one of three lobbyists in Texas for the company and was Merck's sole lobbyist in Texas and one of his chief functions was to achieve a state mandate for Merck vaccines. Merck paid Toomey between $260,000 and $535,000 in lobbying fees between 2005 and 2010, according to state lobbying records. Mr Toomey is running Governor Perry's Super PAC for his 2012 Presidential campaign.
Toomey's replacement as Chief of Staff was Deirdre Delisi. On October 16, 2006 Deirdre Delisi, met with key aides in a "Merck HPV Vaccine update." That same day, Merck & Co.'s political action committee donated $5,000 to Perry and $5,000 total to eight state lawmakers.
Merck also funded a group called Women in Govenment. This group advocated on a number of issues, including attempting to get states to enact a mandate for children to take Gardasil. The Texas state director of WIG was Republican state Rep. Dianne White Delisi. Dianne Delisi is the mother-in-law of Governor Perry's chief of staff Deidre Delisi.
Between January of 2006 and July of 2011, Merck gave a total of $377,500 to the Republican Governor's association and a total of $28,500 to Governor Perry between January of 2001 and July of 2011.
Merck Contributions to RGA and Governor Perry
Total to RGA and Perry
Contributor
RGA Total 1/06-7/11
Perry Total 1/01-7/11
$406,000
Merck & Co
$377,500
$28,500
Republican Governor's Association
Governor Perry was the head of the Republican Governor's Association (RGA) from January of 2006 to July of 2011. Texas has limitations on fund-raising which prohibits politicians from directly taking funds from a company's treasury. The RGA does not have these restrictions. The RGA has given a total of $4 million to Governor Perry's campaigns since 2006. In addition, between January of 2006 and July of 2011,
RGA Contributions to Perry's Campaigns
Contributor
Date
Amount
RGA Michigan 2010 PAC
10/4/2010
$3,000,000
Republican Governor's Association
11/2/2006
$500,000
Republican Governor's Association
10/27/2006
$500,000
Total: $4,000,000
Executive Order
On February 2, 2007, Governor Perry issued an executive order mandating that all Texas girls ages 11 and 12 be vaccinated with Gardasil. The order would become effective in 2008 and girls would be immunized as they entered the 6th grade. A parental opt out was provided if parents objected. Governor Perry issued a press statement on the order on the same day.
The order also directed state health authorities to make the vaccine available free to girls 9 to 18 who are uninsured or whose insurance does not cover vaccines. In addition, he ordered that Medicaid offer Gardasil to women ages 19 to 21. Texas was the first state to mandate HPV immunization.
Gov. Perry Establishes HPV Vaccination Program for Young Women Vaccine will save lives of Texas women by preventing cervical cancer caused by HPV
Friday, February 02, 2007 • Press Release
AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry today issued an executive order directing the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) to adopt rules requiring all girls age 11 and 12 to receive the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine prior to entering sixth grade, effective September 2008. The executive order also directs HHSC and the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) to make the vaccine immediately available to eligible young females through the Texas Vaccines for Children program for young women ages 9 to 18, and through Medicaid for women ages 19 to 21.
“The HPV vaccine provides us with an incredible opportunity to effectively target and prevent cervical cancer,” said Perry. “Requiring young girls to get vaccinated before they come into contact with HPV is responsible health and fiscal policy that has the potential to significantly reduce cases of cervical cancer and mitigate future medical costs.”
HPV is the most common sexually transmitted disease in the United States. Today, approximately 20 million people in the nation are infected, including one in four 15 to 24 year olds. Certain strains of HPV cause most cases of cervical cancer. Texas has the second highest number of women suffering from this devastating disease in the nation. In 2006, there were 1,169 new cases and nearly 400 deaths from cervical cancer in the state.
Parents may choose to opt out of mandatory vaccinations for reasons of conscience, including religious beliefs. The governor’s executive order directs DSHS to ease the opt out process by providing exemption request forms online.
HB 1098
On March 14 and April 23 of 2007, the Texas House and Senate passed HB 1098 which expressly repealed Governor Perry's executive order requiring Gardasil. The House passed the bill 118-23 and the Senate Bill passed 30-1.
(b-1)An Immunization against human papillomavirus is not required for a person ’s admission to any elementary or secondary school; however, by using existing resources, the Health and Human Services Commission shall provide educational material about the human papillomavirus vaccine that is unbiased, medically and scientifically accurate, and peer reviewed, available to parents or legal guardians at the appropriate time in the immunization schedule by the appropriate school. This subsection preempts any contrary executive order issued by the governor. This subsection expires January 11, 2011.
Governor Perry allowed the bill to go into affect without vetoing it as the state legislature had enough votes to override the veto. Governor Perry issued a press statement on May 5 addressing the issue.
Gov. Rick Perry's Remarks Regarding the HPV Vaccine Legislation
* Note: Gov. Perry frequently departs from prepared remarks. Saturday, May 05, 2007 • Speech
Good afternoon. In early February I initiated a national debate by ordering the widespread use of the HPV vaccine, which protects women from the deadly human papillomavirus that serves as the most common cause of cervical cancer. Since then, the legislature has countered that order with the passage of House Bill 1098, a bill which awaits my action today. During that time frame, a debate which affects real lives has been hijacked by politics and posturing. I have never seen so much misinformation spread about a vital public health issue, whether it is the effectiveness of the vaccine, the impact of the order on parents’ decision-making authority, or the impact this will have on the behavior of young women. But the fact remains: my order always has been and always will be about protecting women’s health. And while I respect the voice of the legislature, this issue has never been about the separation of powers, but the saving of lives.
Those legislators who claim this is about their right to determine public policy have succeeded in overturning my order. But if they care about succeeding in stopping the spread of the second most deadly cancer among women, and not just asserting their power, then they will turn around and pass legislation to make access to the HPV vaccine as widely available as possible. Instead, they have sent me a bill that will ensure three-quarters of our young women will be susceptible to a virus that not only kills hundreds each year, but causes great discomfort and harm to thousands more. Instead of vaccinating close to 95 percent of our young women, and virtually eliminating the spread of the most common STD in America, they have relegated the lives of our young women to social Darwinism, where only those who can afford it, or those who understand the virtues of it, will get access to the HPV vaccine.
In fact, this legislature has not only overturned an order that could save women’s lives, but they put rider language in the budget that prevents the state from funding vaccines for low-income women if it is mandated by the commission. This is shameful. Not only does this not make sense in terms of social policy, it doesn’t make fiscal sense. The cost of providing this vaccine to eligible young women through the Vaccines for Children program and Medicaid is less than $13 million in general revenue each year, while the cost of treating HPV-related cervical diseases is $173 million in direct medical costs each year. I am also mystified by the argument that making this vaccine widely available encourages promiscuity, especially from legislators who voted for a needle exchange program that encourages drug addicts to continue to abuse illegal drugs. The fact of the matter is, even when young people are cautious and abstain from risky behavior, they could still become a victim of HPV, either from a marriage partner, or worse yet, as a victim of rape. Such is the story of Amanda Vail, who was raped and now must forever fight HPV. Amanda, thank you for your courage, and for standing here with me today.
Amanda’s story is made all the more tragic by the circumstances surrounding her contracting of this virus. But it is nonetheless a tragedy for every woman who contracts this disease, regardless of the circumstances. And it is the tone of this debate that has disturbed me most. The notion of forgiveness and grace has been totally lost in this debate. People make wrong choices. Our society is full of such individuals who have found redemption from past mistakes. But if we had a vaccine for lung cancer, would we stop its widespread use because it might send a message that it is okay to engage in an unhealthy behavior like smoking? The sad irony is: if you or I had a family member suffering from cervical cancer, there is no treatment we would rob them of if it could take away the pain and bring them back to health. And yet, we won’t provide them the vaccine that can prevent all that pain and suffering, that death sentence, because of the message it might send? What about a message of grace, compassion and forgiveness for anyone who has made wrong choices? Have we lost sight of that?
Banning widespread access to a vaccine that can prevent cancer is short-sighted policy. Critics cannot legitimately point to science or medicine to back up their claims. Nor can they hide behind the veneer of parental rights when parents can opt out. Nor can they say that it encourages wrong choices with any real legitimacy, and even if they could, they do so without regard to a higher imperative: which is to save lives. And this is not some arcane policy debate- we’re talking about real lives, like Barbara Garcia, whose battle with cervical cancer now confines her to a wheelchair. She won’t live to see her 9 year old son one day graduate from high school, or ask his sweetheart to marry him. Barbara, thank you for being here today.
That’s what this is about my fellow Texans- ensuring that other women don’t have to face the same suffering. It’s about women like Cheryl Lieck, the county attorney for Chambers County, who even though she is a survivor, bears the scars of this terrible disease. After 3 rounds of chemo therapy, 3 intensive surgeries and 37 rounds of radiation, she still must endure pap smears every 3 months. The cost of saving her life, $250,000, was worth every dime. But compare that to the cost of three shots for some young Texas woman today so she never has to endure a similar battle. Thank you for joining us Cheryl.
Thousands of women in Texas have stories like Amanda and Barbara and Cheryl, women who have fought and continue to fight a battle against cervical cancer. In the next year, more than a thousand women will likely be diagnosed with this insidious yet mostly preventable disease. I challenge legislators to look these women in the eyes and tell them, “We could have prevented this disease for your daughters and granddaughters, but we just didn’t have the gumption to address all the misguided and misleading political rhetoric.”
I want to thank those legislators who voted against this bill. They will never have to think twice about whether they did the right thing. No lost lives will occupy the confines of their conscience, sacrificed on the altar of political expediency. I have wrestled for a few days with whether to veto this bill, or let it become law without my signature. But the fact of the matter is, it will become law no matter what because the voice of the Legislature is clear. And rather than allowing this issue to be held captive one more day by legislative politics, and the inevitable posturing that will ensue during a veto override debate, I have decided to let it become law without my signature. It is time to extract this issue from the political arena to the court of public opinion where real lives are at stake, and it is time to do so without delay.
Every day that goes by, another Texas woman loses her battle with cervical cancer. That is a tragedy. But while those women sadly leave this life, one each day, their voices won’t be silenced. Some day they will be heard. One such voice is that of Heather Burcham, a 31-year old victim from Houston. She was too weak to make the trip here today- cancer is ravaging her body. And when she did come here a few months ago, few in the legislature wanted to listen. Politicians have had their say on this issue and politics has been served. They have had an opportunity to eliminate the leading cause of the second most common cancer in women. They chose not to. With the time she has left on this earth, Heather Burcham has chosen to try and reach as many young women as possible and urge them to get vaccinated so that no one has to suffer as she has. The courage and dignity she has shown, and the good she is doing with her short life, is worth so much more then the empty political rhetoric that has emanated from this building on this issue. So today, I am going to let Heather have the last word. She has something to say, and I think it’s infinitely more important than anything written in this bill.
Republican Presidential Debates
In three debates to date, Governor Perry has been asked about the Gardasil mandate. The video below shows those conversations between him and Congressman Paul and Congresswoman Bachmann. The text of those remarks is shown below in chronological order, just as with the film. Note that Governor Perry discusses his interaction with Heather Burcham as part of the reason for going ahead with the mandate. He notes that he was lobbied by her in that matter and describes her as a 31 years old cervical cancer patient.
Reagan Debate
Congressman Paul, we've been talking just now about Governor Perry's rhetoric, but let's talk about his record.
Just this morning, your campaign put out a statement accusing him of pushing for bailout money, supporting welfare for illegal immigrants, and trying to forcibly vaccinate 12-year-old girls against sexually transmitted diseases.
He's your home state governor. Is he less conservative than meets the eye?
PAUL: Much more so, yes.
Just take the HPV. Forcing 12-year-old girls to take an inoculation to prevent this sexually transmitted disease, this is not good medicine, I do not believe. I think it's social misfit.
It's not good social policy. And therefore, I think this is very bad to do this. But one of the worst parts about that was the way it was done.
You know, the governorship in Texas traditionally is supposed to be a weak governorship. I didn't even know they could pass laws by writing an executive order. He did it with an executive order, passed it.
The state was furious, and the legislature, overwhelmingly, probably 90 percent -- I don't know exactly -- overwhelmingly repealed this. But I think it's the way it was passed, which was so bad.
I think it's a bad piece of legislation. But I don't like the idea of executive orders. I, as president, will not use the executive order to write laws.
HARRIS: Time. Thank you, Congressman.
Governor Perry, we'll get to you.
But, Congresswoman Bachmann, this is an issue you have also talked about, HPV.
BACHMANN: Well, what I'm very concerned about is the issue of parental rights. I think when it comes to dealing with children, it's the parents who need to make that decision. It is wrong for government, whether it's state or federal government, to impose on parents what they must do to inoculate their children. This is very serious, and I think that it's very important, again, that parents have the right.
Educational reform is another area. That's where I cut my teeth in politics, was being involved in educational reform, because the problem you see is one of framing.
It's the idea, should the federal government control these areas, or should parents and localities control these areas? We have the best results when we have the private sector and when we have the family involved. We have the worst results when the federal government gets involved, and especially by dictate to impose something like an inoculation on an innocent 12-year-old girl.
I would certainly oppose that.
HARRIS: Thank you.
Governor Perry, we've had candidates talking about you. Let's hear from you.
PERRY: I kind of feel like the pinata here at the party, so...
HARRIS: Welcome.
PERRY: But here's the facts of that issue. There was an opt-out in that piece of -- it wasn't legislation. It was an executive order.
I hate cancer. We passed a $3 billion cancer initiative that same legislative session of which we're trying to find over the next 10 years cures to cancers. Cervical cancer is caused by HPV. We wanted to bring that to the attention of these thousands of -- of -- of -- tens of thousands of young people in our state. We allowed for an opt-out.
I don't know what's more strong for parental rights than having that opt-out. There's a long list of diseases that cost our state and cost our country. It was on that list.
Now, did we handle it right? Should we have talked to the legislature first before we did it? Probably so. But at the end of the day, I will always err on the side of saving lives.
(APPLAUSE)
HARRIS: Senator Santorum, one final note on this book, "Fed Up." Governor Perry says in his book that it was, quote, "unprincipled" for Republicans to vote in favor of creating the Department of Homeland Security. You were one of those Republicans who voted yes. Respond.
SANTORUM: We created the Department of Homeland Security because there was a complete mess in the internal -- in protecting our country. We had all sorts of agencies that had conflicting authority. We had no information sharing that was going on. This was right after 9/11. We saw the problems created as a result of 9/11. And we put together a plan to try to make sure that there was better coordination.
I want to get back to this Gardasil issue. You know, we have -- Governor Perry's out there and -- and claiming about state's rights and state's rights. How about parental rights being more important than state's rights? How about having, instead of an opt-out, an opt- in?
If you really cared, you could make the case, instead of forcing me, as a parent -- and I have seven children, too, the wide receivers here have -- have -- on the ends here have -- have -- have seven children each -- but I am offended that -- that the government would tell me -- and by an executive order, without even going through the process of letting the people have any kind of input. I would expect this from President Obama; I would not expect this from someone who's calling himself a conservative governor.
HARRIS: Time.
Governor Romney, you've been listening to this exchange. Who's got the better end of it?
ROMNEY: You know, I believe in parental rights and parental responsibility for our kids. My guess is that Governor Perry would like to do it a different way second time through. We've each get -- we've each taken a mulligan or two. And -- and my guess is that that's something you'd probably do a little differently the second time. He just said he'd rather do it through legislation second time through.
And I recognize he wanted very badly to provide better health care to his kids and to prevent the spread of cancer. I agree with -- with those who said he went about it in the wrong way, but I think his heart was in the right place.
Right now, we have people who on this stage care very deeply about this country. We love America. America is in crisis. We have some differences between us, but we agree that this president's got to go. This president is a nice guy. He doesn't have a clue how to get this country working again. And -- and...
CNN TEA Party Debate
QUESTION: My name is Linda Gunn (ph). I'm from Portsmouth, Virginia. I'm part of the Virginia Taxpayers Alliance. My question has to do with executive orders, under what circumstances should a president sign an executive order? And how frequently should such an order be signed?
BLITZER: Congressman Paul.
PAUL: The executive orders have been grossly abused by all administrations for a lot of years. If you can't -- some executive orders are legal. When the president executes proper function of the presidency like moving troops and other things, yes, it's done with an executive order. But the executive order should never be used to legislate. That is what is so bad.
So the executive order should be taken under control. And I have made a promise that as president I would never use the executive order to legislate.
BLITZER: Governor Perry, as you well know, you signed an executive order requiring little girls 11 and 12-year-old girls to get a vaccine to deal with a sexually transmitted disease that could lead to cervical cancer. Was that a mistake?
PERRY: It was. And indeed, if I had it to do over again, I would have done it differently. I would have gone to the legislature, worked with them. But what was driving me was, obviously, making a difference about young people's lives.
Cervical cancer is a horrible way to die. And I happen to think that what we were trying to do was to clearly send a message that we're going to give moms and dads the opportunity to make that decision with parental opt-out.
Parental rights are very important in state of Texas. We do it on a long list of vaccines that are made, but on that particular issue, I will tell you that I made a mistake by not going to the legislature first. Let me address Ron Paul just a minute by saying I will use an executive order to get rid of as much of Obamacare as I can on day one.
(APPLAUSE)
BLITZER: Congresswoman Bachmann, do you have anything to say about what Governor Perry just said. You're a mom.
BACHMANN: I'm a mom. And I'm a mom of three children. And to have innocent little 12-year-old girls be forced to have a government injection through an executive order is just flat out wrong. That should never be done. It's a violation of a liberty interest.
That's -- little girls who have a negative reaction to this potentially dangerous drug don't get a mulligan. They don't get a do- over. The parents don't get a do-over. That's why I fought so hard in Washington, D.C., against President Obama and Obamacare.
President Obama in a stunning, shocking level of power now just recently told all private insurance companies, you must offer the morning-after abortion pill, because I said so. And it must be free of charge. That same level coming through executive orders and through government dictates is wrong. And that's why again we have to have someone who is absolutely committed to the repeal of Obamacare and I am. I won't rest until it's appealed.
BLITZER: Let's let Governor Perry respond. Was what you signed into law, that vaccine for 11 and 12-year-old girls, was that,as some of your critics have suggested, a mandate?
PERRY: No, sir it wasn't. It was very clear. It had an opt- out. And at the end of the day, this was about trying to stop a cancer and giving the parental option to opt out of that. And at the end of the day, you may criticize me about the way that I went about it, but at the end of the day, I am always going to err on the side of life. And that's what this was really all about for me.
BLITZER: Senator Santorum -- go ahead.
BACHMANN: Can i ad to that, Wolf? Can I add to that?
(CROSSTALK)
BLITZER: Hold on a second. First Congresswoman Bachmann, then Senator Santorum.
BACHMANN: I just wanted to add that we cannot forget that in the midst of this executive order there is a big drug company that made millions of dollars because of this mandate. We can't deny that...
(APPLAUSE)
BLITZER: What are you suggesting?
BACHMANN: What I'm saying is that it's wrong for a drug company, because the governor's former chief of staff was the chief lobbyist for this drug company. The drug company gave thousands of dollars in political donations to the governor, and this is just flat-out wrong. The question is, is it about life, or was it about millions of dollars and potentially billions for a drug company?
BLITZER: All right. I'll let Senator Santorum hold off for a second.
You've got to response to that.
PERRY: Yes, sir. The company was Merck, and it was a $5,000 contribution that I had received from them. I raise about $30 million. And if you're saying that I can be bought for $5,000, I'm offended.
(APPLAUSE)
BACHMANN: Well, I'm offended for all the little girls and the parents that didn't have a choice. That's what I'm offended for.
(APPLAUSE)
SANTORUM: I think we need to hear what Governor Perry's saying. He's saying that his policy was right. He believes that what he did was right. He thinks he went about it the wrong way.
I believe your policy is wrong. Why -- ladies and gentlemen, why do we inoculate people with vaccines in public schools? Because we're afraid of those diseases being communicable between people at school. And therefore, to protect the rest of the people at school, we have vaccinations to protect those children.
Unless Texas has a very progressive way of communicating diseases in their school by way of their curriculum, then there is no government purpose served for having little girls inoculated at the force and compulsion of the government. This is big government run amok. It is bad policy, and it should not have been done.
(APPLAUSE)
BLITZER: I'm going to move on, Governor Perry, unless you want to say anything else.
PERRY: Look, I think we made decisions in Texas. We put a $3 billion effort in to find the cure for cancer. There are a lot of different cancers out there. Texas, I think, day in and day out, is a place that protects life.
I passed parental notification piece of legislation. I've been the most pro-life governor in the state of Texas. And what we were all about was trying to save young people's lives in Texas.
SANTORUM: Then give the parents the opt-in, as opposed to -- teach them, let them opt in, but do not force them to have this inoculation.
Fox News / Google Debate
WALLACE: Thank you, governor.
Congresswoman Bachmann, in the last debate you criticized Governor Perry for his executive order mandating that 6th graders get the HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer. Then afterward, you suggested that the vaccine was linked to mental retardation and you said that it could be, quote, "potentially be a very dangerous drug."
But the American Academy of Pediatrics has looked at it and says that the HPV vaccine has an excellent safety record. So my question to you is, do you stand by your statement that the HPV vaccine is potentially dangerous? And if not, should you be more careful when you're talking about public health issue?
BACHMANN: Well, first I didn't make that claim nor did I make that statement. Immediately after the debate, a mother came up to me and she was visibly shaken and heart broken because of what her daughter had gone through. I so I only related what her story was.
But here's the real issue, Governor Perry mandated a health care decision on all 12-year-old little girls in the state of Texas. And by that mandate, those girls had to have a shot for a sexually transmitted disease. That is not appropriate to be a decision that a governor makes.
It is appropriate that parents make that decision in consultation with their doctor.
But here's the even more important point, because Governor Perry made a decision where he gave parental rights to a big drug company.
That big drug company gave him campaign contributions and hired his former chief of staff to lobby him to benefit the big drug company.
That's what was wrong with that picture.
(APPLAUSE)
WALLACE: Governor Perry, obviously 30 seconds to respond.
PERRY: Thank you.
I got lobbied on this issue. I got lobbied by a 31-year-old young lady who had stage 4 cervical cancer. I spent a lot of time with her.
She came by my office talked to me about in program.
I readily admitted we should have had an opt-in, in this program.
But, I don't know what part of opt-out most parents don't get. And the fact is, I erred on the side of life and I will always err on the side of life as a governor as the president of the United States.
Heather Burcham
Heather Burcham was the cervical cancer victim that Governor Perry was referencing in the FoxNews / Google debate. Governor Perrry stated in that debate that he was lobbied to enact the mandate by a 31 year old woman that was dying of the disease that Gardasil could have prevented. However, in his own statements regarding the passing of Mrs Burcham, Governor Perry notes that he met her when she came to testify against HB 1098 - the law that repealed the mandate. That testimony was given on February 20, 2007 and unfortunately Mrs Burcham was not able to participate as the proceedings went into the night.
Gov. Rick Perry's Remarks at the Heather Burcham Memorial Service Monday, July 30, 2007 • Speech
I am honored to stand before you today in remembrance of Heather Burcham. I am not here because I knew Heather for very long, or because I spent a great amount of time with her like many of you here today, but because in the short time we spent together she touched my heart. To those who knew her well: her mother and her sisters, her amazing surrogate family, the Wilsons, her many friends that in these final months became her support group, today each of you knows the great sorrow of saying goodbye to someone who can never be replaced, and I mourn with you for your great loss.
I met Heather in February, long after cancer had begun ravaging her body, and after the doctors indicated there was no hope. She came to Austin to be a voice for every woman who has ever suffered from cervical cancer, and for every young girl who might one day be exposed to HPV, our nation’s most common STD, and the cause of all cases of cervical cancer. Recognizing there was nothing science and medicine could do for her, Heather could have stayed home that day, seeking the solace and comfort of her own bed, and the privacy of her own personal battle. But instead she made the three hour drive from Houston, she attended hours of a legislative hearing until she was too physically exhausted to stay, and she shared her very personal story with the press and the public. It was an act of courage and an expression of love, so that young girls some day would not have to suffer what she has suffered.
Though Heather’s cancer was incurable, she was not without hope. She had the greatest hope a person can have: that she would one day rise again with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and on that day there would be no more pain, no more sorrow, no more cancer. Though cancer stole her energy, it never robbed her of her spirit. I could hear the words of the Apostle Paul as I looked in her eyes: “O death, where is your sting.” As Paul declared near the end of his life, “to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” Heather Burcham lost her life. But in the process she gained everything. She has been embraced in the arms of glory of a gracious God, who loved her before she was ever born, and whose love for her never wavered even in the darkest of days, as cancer spread throughout her frail body.
When you meet someone like Heather, your first reaction is this is not supposed to happen. Mothers were not meant to bury their daughters. Young women in the prime of their lives, who have not lived their dreams like getting married and having children, are not supposed to die. But God’s ways are not our ways. His plans are not our plans. And God had a plan for Heather that packed a full life into 31 years. Her suffering had a purpose, and that purpose was to shine light on a groundbreaking vaccine that can protect our wives, sisters and daughters from a deadly cancer. And even though her voice has been silenced by cancer, her spirit echoes from the grave to parents and families across Texas urging them to inoculate their daughters and protect them from the harm that could come to them even if they make right decisions.
I spent a day with Heather this spring. We went hunting, and took a ride on a motorcycle, basking in the beauty of God’s glorious creation. I did not see in her a spirit of resentment, nor an attitude of remorse. I saw in her the clarity that comes from knowing you have but a few months to live. When death knocks on our door, we come to realize that the only thing that matters is love. Everything else we ever strived for, a good career, a nice house, the world’s definition of success, none of it matters when our life is over. But love matters, and people matter. I know of only two things that will last forever, the God who created us, and the people made in His image. And so it follows that a life lived for the glory of God and for the good of our fellow man is a life that isn’t lived in vain.
I think Heather would tell all of us that strive to live a successful life that, more than that, we should strive to live a significant life. Success is measured by the world’s standards, significance is measured by God’s. Heather’s life was short but significant. Many of her dreams were not realized, but because of her, I believe others’ dreams will be realized. She has only begun to symbolize the importance of preventative healthcare for millions of young girls. And though some could not see the benefits of the HPV vaccine through the prism of politics, some day they will. Someday they will recognize that this could happen to anyone’s daughter, even their own. Someday they will respond with compassion when they once responded with ignorance. And, someday, they will come to a place where they recognize the paramount issue is whether we will choose life, and protect life, without regard to what mistakes, if any, have been made in the past.
A compassionate society is not one that says, “do you deserve mercy?,” for who can earn God’s grace? A compassionate society is one that says we will love you because God first loved us. We will value your life without regard to your past. And we will walk with you, as your brothers and sisters, as long as we both shall live. When the New Testament figure Stephen stood before the masses, full of grace and power, they were not ready to hear his message, the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ. And as they stoned him, right before he breathed his last, he pleaded with God, echoing the words of his savior, saying, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” You can hear in his heart the notion that “they know not what they do, so please forgive them Father.” I don’t think Heather harbored ill will for those who opposed the widespread use of the HPV vaccine. Instead, she thought if they could only know what it is to suffer like she had suffered. If they could only know that the issue here is not the cause, but the cure. And that love covers a multitude of sins. But one day Heather, and all the women who have suffered from this terrible disease, will be heard. And their suffering will not be without a purpose.
Today Heather rests in peace, safe in the arms of God. To those who loved her unconditionally, especially Craig and Lisa, Lauren and Demi, and MaryClaire and Ava, Heather wanted you to know how grateful she was for opening up your home to her. You were like family to her, and your outpouring of love sustained her through the worst of her battle with cancer. As we remember Heather today, let us mourn, let us grieve, and let us cry. But let us also celebrate her life. Let us take joy in her smile, and the moments we shared. And let us give thanks to God for the 31 years He gave her to us before He took her home. Our lives have been enriched by her singular life, and we will never again be the same. Thank you, and God bless you all.
CDC Reports on Gardasil
The Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) is a database that allows people to report problems associated with vaccines. There is no scientific link between the problems and the vaccines other than the timing of the problems appearing within hours or days of the administration of the vaccine.
Reports to VAERS Following Gardasil®
As of June 22, 2011, approximately 35 million doses of Gardasil® were distributed in the U.S. and VAERS received a total of 18,727 reports of adverse events following Gardasil® vaccination: 17,958 reports among females and 346 reports for males, of which 285 reports were received after the vaccine was licensed for males in October 2009. VAERS received 423 reports of unknown gender. Of the total number of VAERS reports following Gardasil®, 92% were considered to be non-serious, and 8% were considered serious.
Non-serious adverse event reports
VAERS defines non-serious adverse events as those other than hospitalization, death, permanent disability, or life-threatening illness.
The vast majority (92%) of the adverse events reports following Gardasil® vaccination have included fainting, pain, and swelling at the injection site (the arm), headache, nausea, and fever. Syncope (fainting) is common after injections and vaccinations, especially in adolescents. Falls after fainting may sometimes cause serious injuries, such as head injuries, which can be prevented by closely observing the person for 15 minutes after vaccination. Serious adverse event reports
Any VAERS report that indicated hospitalization, permanent disability, life-threatening illness, congenital anomaly or death is classified as serious. As with all VAERS reports, serious events may or may not have been caused by the vaccine.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)
Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) has been reported after vaccination with Gardasil® . GBS is a rare neurologic disorder that causes muscle weakness. It occurs in 1-2 out of every 100,000 people in their teens. A number of infections have been associated with GBS. There has been no indication that Gardasil® increases the rate of GBS above the rate expected in the general population, whether or not they were vaccinated. Blood Clots
There have been some reports of blood clots in females after receiving Gardasil®. These clots have occurred in the heart, lungs, and legs. Most of these people had a risk of getting blood clots, such as taking oral contraceptives (the birth control pill), smoking, obesity, and other risk factors. Deaths
As of June 22, 2011 there have been a total 68 VAERS reports of death among those who have received Gardasil® . There were 54 reports among females, 3 were among males, and 11 were reports of unknown gender. Thirty two of the total death reports have been confirmed and 36 remain unconfirmed due to no identifiable patient information in the report such as a name and contact information to confirm the report. A death report is confirmed (verified) after a medical doctor reviews the report and any associated records. In the 32 reports confirmed, there was no unusual pattern or clustering to the deaths that would suggest that they were caused by the vaccine and some reports indicated a cause of death unrelated to vaccination.
