HPV legislation in Minnesota

Women in Government Ratings

Women in Government, a non-profit network of state level women legislators, receives significant funding from the pharmaceutical industry, including Merck, GlaxoSmithKline, and Digene Corporation -- all with products related to HPV vaccination and testing. According to their report, "The 'State' of Cervical Cancer Prevention in America - 2008" :

POPULATION: 5,167,101

Incidence & Mortality (2008 Score / 2007 Score)

• Cervical Cancer Incidence Rate: 6.7/100,000 (2 / 2)
• Cervical Cancer Incidence Rate/Race: White: 6.3 , Black: 12.5, Hispanic: 14.0
• Cervical Cancer Mortality Rate: 1.9/100,000 (2 / 2)
• Cervical Cancer Mortality Rate/Race: White: 1.9, Black: 3.8

Screening (2008 Score / 2007 Score)

• Cervical Cancer Screening Rate: 86.2% (2 / 2)
• Cervical Cancer Screening Rate/Race: White: 86.6%
• % Uninsured/Unscreened: 26.6% (1 / 1)
• Medicaid Coverage HPV Testing: Unrestricted (2 / 2)

Healthcare Access (2008 Score / 2007 Score)

• Rate Uninsured Women: 9% (2 / 2)
• % Low Income/Uninsured Women: 22%

Policy Initiatives and Infrastructure (2008 Score / Cumulative Score (2005–2008)

Screening Requirements (0 / 1)

• There are no new screening requirements.

Task Forces (0 / 2)

• There is no new cervical cancer prevention task force legislation.

Access to HPV Vaccines (1 / 1)

• HB 530/SB 243 would require female children 12 years and older to receive the HPV vaccine to enroll in school, with provision of exemption upon submission of notarized statement by parents; and the commissioner of health to develop HPV and HPV vaccine education materials for schools; referred to Health and Human Services Committee.

HPV Vaccine Information Programs (0 / 0)

• There is no HPV vaccine information activity.

Miscellaneous (2 / 2)

• HB 1078 requires the commissioner of health to conduct a study on the risks and benefits of the HPV vaccine; the availability and effectiveness of the vaccine; the extent to which health plan companies cover the cost of the vaccination; and ways to cover the cost of vaccination for persons without coverage. The commissioner will submit a report to the legislature by February 2008 on the findings of the study and recommendations as to whether the HPV vaccine should be made mandatory statewide; signed by Gov. Pawlenty.

Annual Ratings

• 2008: Very Good (17 out of 22 points)
• 2007: Excellent (15 out of 18 points)

Articles and resources

SourceWatch Resources

• Gardasil
• GlaxoSmithKline
• Merck
• Women in Government
• Edelman
• The Marketing of Gardasil in Australia
• The Marketing of Gardasil in Canada
• The Marketing of Gardasil in Europe
• The Marketing of Gardasil in New Zealand
• The Marketing of Gardasil in the United States
• Direct-to-consumer advertising
• Disease Mongering
• Drug industry

External links

• Judith Siers-Poisson, The Politics and PR of Cervical Cancer, a four part series, PRWatch.org, July, 2007.