It's now the law in Texas...(effective September 2008)

Governor Richard Perry (R) has side stepped the Texas State Legislature and signed a new bill which requires sixth-grade girls in the state to be vaccinated with Gardasil. Gardasil, as you might already know, is Merck & Co.'s new vaccine for prevention of cervical cancer caused by strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV). From the International Herald Tribune article:

Texas allows parents to opt out of inoculations by filing an affidavit objecting to the vaccine on religious or philosophical reasons. Even with such provisions, however, conservative groups say such requirements interfere with parents' rights to make medical decisions for their children.

The federal government approved Gardasil in June, and a government advisory panel has recommended that all girls get the shots at 11 and 12, before they are likely to be sexually active.

Click here to read the entire article. What are your thoughts on this issue?