Last year, Michigan was set to become one of the first states to mandate that sixth-grade girls be vaccinated against the human papillomavirus (HPV).
A bill that recently cleared the Senate drops the mandate. Instead, it would require that parents of sixth-graders be given information about the vaccine. The bill is now in the House and is expected to become law.
Merck & Co.’s Gardasil vaccine protects against the four most common strains of HPV. Focus on the Family Action supports widespread availability of the vaccine, but holds that parents should make the decision of whether their daughters are vaccinated.
"It’s critical that teens and parents understand the threatening risks of HPV and other sexually transmitted infections if they choose to have sex outside of marriage," said Linda Klepacki, sexual health analyst for Focus on the Family Action. "We thank the Michigan Senate for supporting the parents' right to choose vaccines for their children."
