Orlando Injury Lawyers Applaud Drug Maker's Suspension of Campaign
As Orlando injury lawyers, we have championed the rights of children, adults and seniors. The recent efforts of pharmaceutical drug giant, Merck & Co. has directly called into question the rights of both children and their parents to make very personal and private decisions.
Fortunately, this product maker has confronted strong challenges to its recent campaign.
Bowing to pressure from parents and medical groups, Merck & Co. is suspending its lobbying campaign to persuade legislatures to mandate that adolescent girls get the company's vaccine against cervical cancer as a requirement to attend school. The drug maker, which disclosed the change had been soundly criticized for quietly funding the campaign, via a third party, to require 11- and 12-year-old girls get the three-dose vaccine in order to attend school.
Some had objected because the vaccine protects against a sexually transmitted disease, human papilloma virus, which causes cervical cancer. Vaccines mandated for school attendance usually prevent diseases spread through casual contact, such as measles and mumps.
"Our goal is about cervical cancer prevention and we want to reach as many females as possible with Gardasil," said Dr. Richard M. Haupt, Merck's medical director for vaccines .
"We're concerned that our role in supporting school requirements is a distraction from that goal, and as such have suspended our lobbying efforts," Haupt said, adding the company will continue providing information about the vaccine if asked by officials.
Merck began selling Gardasil, the first vaccine to prevent cervical cancer, in June. Sales totaled $235 million through 2006, according to Merck. Last month, the AP reported that Merck was channeling money for its campaign through Women in Government, an advocacy group made up of female state legislators across the country.
