Texas legislators object to Governor's vaccine mandate for sixth-grade girls
Feb. 6, 2007
Lawmakers say they should have been allowed to hear from doctors, scientists and patients before the governor acted.
Some Republican legislators in Texas are complaining about Gov. Rick Perry's executive suggestion that girls entering sixth grade be vaccinated against a sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer. State Sen. Jane Nelson, chairwoman of the Senate's health and human services committee, says lawmakers should have been allowed to hear from doctors, scientists and patients before the state carries out such a sweeping mandate. Perry has ordered the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to adopt rules requiring the vaccine as of September 2008.