80th Legislature: Merck Ceases Lobbying For HPV Vaccine Gardasil…And I Wonder Why

Merck & Company yesterday announced that it has stopped lobbying for its HPV vaccine, Gardasil, which created a nationwide firestorm after Texas Governor Rick Perry issued an Executive Order mandating its use.

Now, if we could only get USB to stop fooling around with the Texas Lottery.

What’s most interesting, though, is that Merck seems to be backing down for reasons other than the fact that former Rick Perry lapdog Mike Toomey is one of their lobbyists:

“The determination came from pretty clearly talking to third parties” such as the American Academy of Pediatricians, Mr. Kerins said. “The question became, ‘Should it be mandated now?’ “

What the hell? Is Merck no longer standing behind its product? I’ve never, ever, ever seen a pharmaceutical company fold in the face of any physician’s association. This has to be unprecedented.

Although I’m still of the position that Perry should have waited for the Legislature before issuing his Executive Order, I have to agree with what his spokeswoman Krista Moody said:

“Governor Perry’s executive order was not about a company. It’s about saving lives and preventing women from contracting cancer.”

And, you know what? That is what it is all about.

And, like Governor Perry said, it’s personal.

Like Governor Perry, my mother also had cancer. Unlike Governor Perry, however, my mother did not survive. Lymphoma claimed her life in December, 1994.

I’ve been back and forth and all over this issue in my mind: was Perry wrong for issuing the Executive Order? Was Merck wrong for lobbying for use of the vaccine?

And, after all that back and forth, I’ve reached a conclusion:

I no longer care. I’ll explain why in a minute.
Should he have waited for the Legislature? Yes. Now that he’s issued the order, should progressives rush to his defense, in spite of Merck and its relationship with Mike Toomey? That’s a tougher one, but I’m going to (possibly breaking with some of my colleagues) and say “yes.”

It’s hard to make an “unholy union”—such as one that might be created by Democrats supporting Perry on this one—not remain “unholy.” But, it may be time to try.

As to why I no longer care? Hell might freeze over, but Perry is right about something when it comes to eradicating cancer:

“It can be done, it will be done, and I don’t know why it shouldn’t happen here,” Mr. Perry said.

I don’t either, quite frankly. Perhaps, it is because I’ve lost someone to cancer. It’s certainly not because I have some newfound desire to agree with the same Governor who I’ve negatively blogged about for nearly four years.

And now, for some odd reason, I actually feel like I should direct some anger at Merck.

No, they shouldn’t be running around lobbying for their vaccine for the sake of money. Should they get out in front of the debate and show all of the radical right-wing nutjobs that their misconceptions about the vaccine are just that, and that it has medical benefits? Damned right they should. They should be sending reports of clinical trials and similar data in droves to the Legislature.

Because, after all, the reason they backed out is purely financial.

How so? A lot of the radical-right-wing nutjobs railing against Perry’s order around the country unfortunatly carry a lot of influence. And, the more bad press a company gets, the lower their stock price drops.

So, for the record, I shall say this once and once only (probably for my entire life), so remember it, because if it happens again, Hell will assuredly freeze over:

Governor Perry: you put the cart before the horse, but I can’t blame you and will go so far as to say, “you did the right thing.”

Merck: Bad publicity is a fact of life. At least you didn’t manufacture silicone breast implants or phen-fen. Get your ass out there and support your product—but not because it will make you money—because it’s a start to fighting cancer in Texas.
I feel a sudden chill now. Perhaps I should go buy some ice skates.

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