Merck suspends lobbying

BAC'sMom wrote: http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4567385.html

Kentuckychick replied: I figured that would happen... I bet it will get shot down... it needs to.

Anyone heard the latest on the rotovirus vaccine and it possibly being dangerous? I saw that in the paper 2 days ago...

These vaccines simply haven't been around long enough to be demanding anyone to receive them!

Calimama replied:
I agree 100%

jcc64 replied: From the perspective of not enough testing for safety- I'm in agreement that state mandating this vaccine is premature. Too many times, pharmaceutical companies have thrust drugs and vaccines upon us w/o first knowing the long/short term side effects, and the FDA is most definitely in bed with them. However, I am absolutely not in agreement with conservative groups who believe the vaccine will encourage premarital sex. To deny a child the chance to avoid contracting cancer because of an ill founded paranoia is beyond ludicrous, imo.

amynicole21 replied:
Couldn't agree more. My girls will be getting this vaccine when they are older.

MommyToAshley replied:
I may have read the article wrong as I skimmed it quickly, but I think that controversy is in the fact that they want to mandate the vaccine be taken for attendance in school. Cervical cancer isn't something that can be spread like chicken pox, so I agree with this decision. The vaccine should be made available as a choice, not mandatory. By the time Ashley is 12, we will most likely know more about the vaccine and I will probably give it to her. If she were 12 today, I am not sure that I would be so quick to jump on the bandwagon as it is so new.

Boo&BugsMom replied:
Dito!!!

MommyToAshley replied: Jeanne, I forgot to add that I do agree and think it is ludicrous that some feel the vaccine will encourage premarital sex. That is a choice that teenagers are going to make regardless of this vaccine. I think the best defense here is talking to our children on an ongoing basis. I can only hope to instill values and beliefs in Ashley, but there are no guarantees that she will make the right choices. Oh... I don't even want to think about the teenage years.

Boo&BugsMom replied:
I use to think that way, but I don't really anymore. Now...if they make a vaccine that prevents pregnancy 100%, then I'd be worried.

jcc64 replied: You read the article right, Dee Dee. Just like regular vaccines for communicable diseases, the state of Texas was trying to mandate this vaccine for all girls attending public schools in Texas. I was pretty surprised at the haste, until I heard that whomever is responsible for making these decisions in Texas has some sort of political connection with Merckk. What a shock.
Anyway, I'm with you. We have the good fortune of having 10 yrs of information accumulating before we have to make the decision. I will most likely be encouraging Corey to get the shot, providing it turns out to be safe.

lisar replied: I did read somewhere (i will try and find it) that this vaccine has been being studied for like 10 years before it was released to give to us. I still dont know ALL of the side effects but my girls will get it when they are older. I have another 10 years to find out more about it.

Boo&BugsMom replied: I could be wrong, but I think all vaccines have a long test run before they are made available to the public. The problem is that the test runs are always on such a small scale and small group of people that it's not really accurate until they are in the public for awhile.