Merck halts nationwide lobby of legislation mandating HPV vaccine in schools
1:28 p.m. Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Drug giant Merck has suspended its lobbying campaign to persuade state legislatures nationwide to require adolescent girls to get the company's new vaccine against cervical cancer.
The drug maker has been criticized for quietly funding the campaign, through a third party, to require 11- and 12-year-old girls get the three-dose vaccine in order to attend school.
Some conservative groups oppose the campaign, saying it encourages premarital sex.
The vaccine protects against the sexually transmitted disease HPV.
Lawmakers in Kansas are no longer looking at a bill requiring the vaccine.
They say it may come up again next year.
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