Gardasil: CDC to Review Requirement for Immigrants

[KnoxvilleDoula]

CDC To Review Vaccine Policies; Immigrant, Women's Rights Advocates Anticipating Repeal Of HPV Vaccine Requirement

12 May 2009  

A coalition of more than 100 groups representing women, immigrants, and public health and reproductive rights advocates are hoping CDC will repeal its rule requiring female immigrants seeking U.S. citizenship to receive the human papillomavirus vaccine Gardasil, the AP/Newark Star-Ledger reports (Garay, AP/Newark Star-Ledger, 5/7). The vaccine, approved by FDA in 2006 and recommended by CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, prevents transmission of HPV strains responsible for 70% of cervical cancer and 90% of genital warts. Gardasil was added to an updated list of immigration vaccines in July 2008 and the policy went into effect Aug. 1 (Kaiser Health Disparities Report, 10/2/08). CDC has been conducting an ongoing review of the requirement, and the public comment period ended on Friday.

Currently, female immigrants ages 11 to 26 must receive Gardasil to be eligible for a green card. The CDC advisory committee recommends the vaccine for U.S. residents, but the agency has proposed changing the criteria used to decide which vaccines should be required for immigrants. The coalition says that mandating the vaccine for immigrant women but not for most U.S. residents is unfair. Priscilla Huang, policy and programs director for the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum, said, "We feel like the CDC is acting in good faith ... and that there is a good chance that the HPV vaccine will be retracted."

Huang said many young women are faced with the choice of getting the vaccine or waiting until they reach age 27 to acquire a green card. The vaccination is a three-shot series that costs between $400 and $1,000, which can add to financial strain for immigrants who already pay more than $1,000 in form fees and hundreds of dollars for mandatory medical exams. Huang said health insurance companies do not pay for medical services required for immigration purposes, which further increases the financial burden for immigrants (Garay, AP/Newark Star-Ledger, 5/7).

Reprinted with kind permission from http://www.kaisernetwork.org. You can view the entire Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, search the archives, or sign up for email delivery at http://www.kaisernetwork.org/dailyreports/healthpolicy. The Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report is published for kaisernetwork.org, a free service of The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation.

© 2009 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

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Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/149695.php

Main News Category: Cervical Cancer / HPV Vaccine

Also Appears In:  Women's Health / Gynecology,  Public Health,  Immune System / Vaccines,  

[RanaAurora]

May. 12, 2009 at 12:19 PM

What the hell?  This vaccine is bullshit, and so is requiring it for immigrants.  That's like saying outright, "We think you're diseased and will sleep around," but it doesn't even make sense when if they already HAVE HPV, this dangerous vaccine won't make it go away!

[KnoxvilleDoula]

May. 12, 2009 at 12:45 PM

Besides, when do we require immigrants to have an ANTI-CANCER vaccine?? (that doesn't even work)

(Original Poster)

[RanaAurora]

May. 12, 2009 at 1:10 PM

No idea.  I don't understand it AT ALL.  The push to get this vaccine wide-spread, first in trying to require it for school and now in immigrants, makes NO sense.  We have tons of other vaccines which would make a lot more sense to be mandatory (if any were going to be, but that's another issue entirely).  Why this brand new, ineffective, dangerous one?

[CAarmywife]

May. 18, 2009 at 5:05 PM

um thats not true "Currently, female immigrants ages 11 to 26 must receive Gardasil to be eligible for a green card"....im an immigrant and came here not long ago and im between that age and i NEVER was forced to have that vaccine...heck i was never even asked to have that. i would never have that vaccine and neither will my children after hearing of all the negative effects it has.