Tom Fudge: California is one of many states considering legislation that would require pre-teen girls to be vaccinated against the HPV virus. That's a virus that causes cervical cancer and vaginal warts. Recently the governor of Texas signed an executive order mandating use of the vaccine by schools. And he's now facing a rebellion in the Legislature.
The proposed legislation has been very controversial in California, as well, because the HPV virus is not spread by casual contract. It's typically transmitted by sexual intercourse. The controversy over the vaccine has been compounded by the fact that the vaccine's maker, Merck Pharmaceuticals, has been lobbying to get these mandates passed. Yesterday the drug company announced it would suspend its lobbying efforts.
Guest
- Dr. Brian Liang, law professor at California Western School of Law, where he is the director of the school's Institute of Health Law Studies. He is also an associate professor of anesthesiology at the UCSD School of Medicine.
End Music: 12 by Squarepusher, from the album Burningn' N Tree (1997)
