Merck backs off

According to a WorldNetDaily piece, the Merck drug company is giving up its push for states to require vaccinations of all young girls:

Drug-making giant Merck & Co. has announced that it will halt its efforts to pressure states into making the vaccination of all young girls against a sexually transmitted disease mandatory.

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, the drug manufacturer said the lobbying had become a distraction because of the backlash among physicians, consumer advocates, parents and even legislators.

The report said the "aggressive lobbying campaign" was designed to boost the sales of Merck's Gardasil, the only vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the few strains of the human papillomavirus that it affects.

Its costs are estimated to be in the $360-$400 per person range, which could have meant billions in revenue for the company, depending on the number of state legislatures convinced that requiring the vaccine is appropriate.

Note to the American people: when you get pissed off about some really offensive government mandate and then fight it tooth and nail, you might just win...especially if it hits the principles in the pocketbook and the politicians at the polls.

Don't forget to read the entire piece...I wonder if Texas Gov. Perry will be a little more cooperative in rescinding his Executive Order to mandate these vaccinations.