State Rep. Delia Garcia, D-Wichita, will be our online chat at 9:45 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31. She will discuss the bill she is sponsoring to have sixth-grade girls vaccinated for a sexually transmitted infection, HPV, that can cause cervical cancer.

Moderator

Good morning. This is Dennis Anderson, managing editor of the Lawrence Journal-World. I will be moderating today’s online chat with state Rep. Delia Garcia, D-Wichita. Rep. Garcia is sponsoring a bill to have sixth-grade girls vaccinated for a sexually transmitted infection, HPV, that can cause cervical cancer. Welcome, respresentative.

Delia Garcia

Good Morning! Thank You for inviting me to talk about this very important issue.

languagerights

Representative Garcia: First, I want to congratulate you for introducing legislation that could impact women and their families across our state. Thank you for working with your peers to introduce a bill that is not about politics, but about maintaining the health and safety of our entire community. Second, this is a very bold move, and I know that you have already encountered opposition. But in our state and across the nation, we struggle, for some reason, to adopt the notion that health care should be provided to all and that preventative care (for all) is imperative if we are to create healthy communities. How does your proposal to provide vaccinations against HPV fit within a larger vision of universal health care in Kansas?

Delia Garcia

Thank you for your comments & question, and more importantly recognizing the importance of this legislation.
This proposal to provide vaccinations against HPV is the first step at this point. Although I am a supporter of the concept of universal health care in Kansas, we need to look at all aspects. More so, I want to focus on one great idea at a time, and this passage of this legislation would definitely make the case of why we need universal health care. I hope I answered your question somewhat, baby steps.

Easy_Does_It

Delia,

I’m not sure I want the state to decide what is best for my child. Is this not something that I can decide for my family without someone in Topeka deciding for me? I think a bigger health issue to young girls is unwanted pregnancy would you support mandatory contraceptives such as Norplant for under age girls? Is there a difference between these two issues?

Delia Garcia

Thank you for your question/ concern. Yes, you will be happy to know that HB 2227 includes an “Opt-Out Option” so you can decide ultimately. This legislation is about “Cancer Control” and preventing a cancer that many women are getting and dying of. I think we should stay focused on decreasing cancer and providing this opportunity for our children.

bangaranggerg

I support the vaccine it’s one of the greatest achievements in medicine in quite a while, but how did you decide on 6th grade to begin it? What about the kids that just missed it?

Delia Garcia

Great question! Actually the CDC (Center for Disease Control) recommended this age group 11-12 {6th graders). The young people who just missed it will be able to receive the vaccine as well, as there is no age limit. It would just be mandatory for this age group for sure. In fact, I would encourage others to especially now that we are able to.

moomom

Ms. Garcia —

While I know you probably have young girls’ best interest in mind with trying to make this vaccine mandatory before they can enter the school systems in Kansas, I think this is an extremely dangerous course of action. There have been several drug recalls in the past couple of years that the FDA and of course the drug manufacturers said were safe and obviously were not. And people paid with their lives. So why would you trust a drug that is just another money-maker for giant pharmaceutical companies and a drug that no one has any idea what the long-term effects will be? This seems like a huge gamble with our children’s lives all for a vaccine that maybe will treat 4 out of the 100 strains of this virus.

Thank you.
Ann W.

Delia Garcia

Thank You Ann for this important question. One fact I do want to point out is though the FDA just approved this last June 2006, the studies began in 1998 on the viabilit on this drug vaccination. Yes, I am more afraid to NOT do this and thinking how many more lives will be lost until we feel comfortable to do this. There is not a set time table to say when a drug vaccine is viable or not, and for now, I do believe, and am joined by many others, that we take advantage of this huge break-through of science, to save lives both men & women from cancers.

aschwegler

Delia – I can’t emphasize enough how relieved I am that women will now have the ability to get vaccinated against the high-risk strains of HPV. I know at this point, though, that the cost of being vaccinated is quite high. Can you speak to this point in regards to mandatory vaccination, please?

Delia Garcia

Yes, some have voiced the same concern. My first response is to inform others that there are federal monies available to help pay for some of these costs, and until later when insurance companies pick it up as they do with other vaccinations like the chicken pox. My second and gut reaction too is that the costs of medical care for someone who gets cervical cancers far exceeds the cost of these three shots. I’d rather be proactive and prevent, rather than put these persons and at times our state at a higher cost of medical coverage expenses. I know I think it is quite worth it.

ModerateJo

Why wouldn’t it be required for boys as well so they stop spreading it?

Delia Garcia

It has been suggested that we include young boys, but the drug vaccination has not been cleared for recommendation for young boys. It has in Australia and one other country, but not in the U.S. yet. However, it has been suggested that we add on an amendment to this bill that we state that when the vaccination is later recommended for young boys, that they too will be included in this mandatory vacinnation. Thanks for the good question.

another_concerned_parent

If this bill is passed and approved, will insurance cover the majority of this series of three shots that currently cost in the area of $150-195 each?

Delia Garcia

The cost of the individual shot is approximately $120 each, but for all three the cost is at $250, as opposed to $360 total. I was just informed this by the U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services Region VII Director. The insurance companies will have the final say of what they will cover. As seen in other states, the hope is that after the beginning year, the insurance companies will cover this cost as they do other vaccincations like the chicken pox.

Moderator

I want to thank Rep. Garcia for joining us this morning. I also want to thank the readers for their questions.

Delia Garcia

Thank you to the readers and thank you to the Lawrence Journal World for offering me this opportunity to more inform Kansans on this important legislation.
I did want your readers to know that we will have a Committee Hearing next week on Wednesday on this bill. So please, voice your support or no support to your respective legislators. You may contact my office for updates at 785-296-6838 or feel free to email me at garcia@house.state.ks.us