HPV Vaccines and the Plan to Eradicate Cancer in Texas

There has been a lot of press on Gov. Rick Perry's executive order mandating HPV vaccination for 11-12 year old girls in the state of Texas.

Lots of people are suspicious. (Texas?! Doing something for women's health?) Actually I can understand their surprise. There has also been a fair amount of skepticism with several allegations and insinuations by the Houston Chronicle and others that his order stems from his financial ties to Merck, the company that owns the only currently approved HPV vaccine.

What I am wondering is why nobody has yet to comment on this move as being part of Texas' emerging and ambitious plan to eradicate cancer. A plan is in the works to invest $3 billion dollars over the next 10 years for cancer research. Ambitious, yes. Foolhardy? Perhaps, as I'm not sure how much faith I have in the state government to invest wisely in cancer prevention. In fact I wouldn't be entirely surprised if they start dumping vast amounts of the money into the frilly Texas-based Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation.

But if this is any indication, all I can say is, Go Governor Good Hair!