The State Senate voted 22-17 Monday to sending HB1112 back to the Education and Health Committee for the year.
The legislation, authored by Del. Kathy Byron (R-Bedford), would have repealed a law requiring parents of pre-teen girls to receive information about the HPV vaccine. The House passed HB1112 on a 62-34 vote in January.
“When the lives of girls and young women are at stake, more information – not less – is always preferable,” said Del. Joe Morrissey (D-Henrico), who spoke on the House floor several times against the legislation.
“The mandate that Del. Byron sought to repeal was simply a letter to parents advising them of HPV’s links to cervical cancer and the efficacy of the vaccine. I am pleased that the Senate chose to effectively kill this legislation for this year, and it is my hope that the lives of young women will continue to be saved as a result,” Morrissey said.
The vaccine has been proven to protect women from cervical and other cancers caused by HPV, one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. Physicians have recently begun to recommend the vaccine for pre-teen boys as well.
Share
AFP
