RICHMOND, Va. (WTVR)- The human papillomavirus is known for causing cervical cancer. In 2007, lawmakers decided that young girls should be required to get vaccinated against the sexually transmitted diseases.
However, many Republicans, like Delegate Kathy Byron (R-22) are trying to get the mandate repealed. A bill introduced by Byron, repealing the HPV mandate, sailed through a house committee, Tuesday. Byron tells CBS 6, “ we don’t have medical knowledge and we should not be deciding if one medical procedure is better than another.”
One Republican delegate, with medical knowledge, did not side with his party. Delegate, Chris Stolle (R-83) says he believes the mandate should stay in place because it helps raise awareness about the virus that kills more than four thousand women every year.
Delegate Joe Morrissey (D-74) says this vaccine is similar to other required vaccines like mumps and measles and believes there are other motives for attempting to repeal this mandate. “There are some folks, perhaps on the other side of the aisle, who think it promotes promiscuity,” says Morrissey.
