Merck to stop pushing for mandatory HPV vaccination

Leading drug manufacturer, Merck, has decided to stop lobbying efforts at getting state legislatures’ mandate for its latest HPV vaccine. The company has been pushing for the vaccine that protects against four strains of the sexually transmitted papillomavirus believed to cause cervical cancer in women.

Texas became the first state early this month to make the HPV vaccination compulsory in pre-teen girls seeking admission to schools. Seventeen other states including Illinois and Florida promised to follow.

The viral infection affects nearly 20 million people in the US and is responsible for about 70% of cervical cancers in women. The company had received federal green signal for its vaccine last June and began an aggressive promotional campaign including lobbying with states to popularize the vaccine.

While researchers agree the vaccine could reduce the incidence of cervical cancer from the HPV infection, its high cost ($360 for a three round course) and Merck’s rather too overboard attempts at pressing for the vaccine, they feel, can be counterproductive.

Because HPV infection is common in almost 50% of sexually active people, the company claims it wishes to reach as many girls before they become sexually active. But parents and advocacy groups have serious concerns about this approach. Several parents have admitted to a queasy and discomforting thought that the admission to schools for their daughters should be linked to something essentially private. They claim it is difficult to explain to their pre-teen girls that they ought to receive a vaccine even before they have formed an attitude towards sex just because the state says so.

There is a very real danger that the vaccine could send a mistaken signal that those who have received would not get other sexually transmitted infections. This could trigger dangerous sexual behavior especially in the light of growing HIV epidemic.

Facing severe opposition Merck has suspended the promotional efforts citing that these were proving counterproductive to the overall goal of bringing maximum girls under the vaccine. Federal officials have denied that pressure from Merck has anything to do with the legislative changes although they have also expressed relief that the public at last gets the issue in true perspective now that Merck has agreed to step aside.

Merck would continue to collaborate with state governments at providing information to the public on responsible sexual behavior and the consequences of wrong choices.