I don't like the idea of mandatory vaccination either, although I'm willing to bend in the case of extremely contagious and serious diseases (smallpox, for example.)

However, less than a month or so ago, this vaccine was a cause celebre of the Left. Their condemnation of "right wingers" who opposed the vaccine was almost universal, and calls for mandatory vaccination came from major liberal sources.

This is just one example.

At the same time, these groups pointedly oppose the vaccine becoming mandatory. "Because parents have an inherent right to be the primary educator and decision maker regarding their children's health, we would oppose any measures to legally require the vaccination or to coerce parents into authorizing it," said the Family Research Council. Focus on the Family "opposes mandatory HPV vaccinations for entry into public school. The decision of whether to vaccinate a minor against this or other sexually transmitted infections should remain with the child's parent or guardian." And the Christian Medical & Dental Associations believe the vaccination should "absolutely remain a choice, not a requirement."

But social conservatives have it wrong. To effectively combat cervical cancer, the HPV vaccine should be mandatory--or as close to mandatory as such things can be. In practice, this would mean adding the vaccine to the roster of immunizations that states require before students can enroll in school--a list that includes inoculations against other public health threats such as Hepatitis B, which also can be transmitted sexually.

Others that have been pushing to have the vaccination mandatory for school are Women in Government and The Lancet medical journal.

And now, a Republican wants to make it mandatory, and someone apparently just realized that mandatory health treatments make money for somebody? Going to be a hoot watching the Left sort out their talking points on THIS one.

This should not be allowed to happen. It should be available free through clinics and doctor's office, but getting the State to order it is doing nothing but making MERCK rich.

Lindy, don't you think Merck gets paid for "free" vaccine too? It just comes from the taxpayers instead of the insurance companies.

God DAMN evil corporations for saving millions from cervical cancer!!