http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/552503_print
Merck Ending Lobbying for Mandatory Gardasil Vaccine
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Merck Ending Lobbying for Mandatory Gardasil Vaccine
NEW YORK (Reuters) Feb 21 - Drugmaker Merck & Co. said on Tuesday it would stop lobbying state legislatures to make it mandatory for schoolgirls to be inoculated with its new HPV vaccine to prevent cervical cancer.
The company said it made the decision after re-evaluating its lobbying program, which has generated fierce debate with some religious organizations saying it could encourage promiscuity, and parents' groups questioning the need for such a widespread vaccination program.
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Earlier this month, Texas became the first U.S. state to require that all 11- and 12-year-old girls be vaccinated against HPV. Republican Gov. Rick Perry said parents could opt out of mandatory vaccinations for their children if they objected for reasons including religious beliefs.
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Richard Haupt, executive director of medical affairs for vaccines at Merck, said the media publicity had become a "potential distraction" that was interfering with the company's objective of promoting widespread use of the product.
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GlaxoSmithKline Plc is expected to file in April for U.S. regulatory approval for its cervical cancer vaccine Cervarix.
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