School Committee asking RI to rescind HPV vaccine requirement
By: Rebecca Turco
Email: rturco@abc6.com
COVENTRY – The Coventry School Committee is speaking out against a controversial new vaccine requirement for RI middle school students.
Committee Member James Pierson introduced a resolution, which asks Governor Gina Raimondo and the RI Department of Health to rescind the mandate that requires all seventh graders be vaccinated against human papillomavirus (HPV).
HPV is a sexually-transmitted disease that usually goes away on its own, but at its worst, is linked to cervical and other cancers. Pierson feels the HPV vaccine shouldn’t be treated the same as other required school immunizations. “It’s not measles, mumps or rubella – it can’t be contracted in schools,” Pierson told ABC6 News.
Starting the 3-dose vaccine at the pre-teen age range means the kids’ bodies are more likely to respond to the immunization, according to the Heath Department.
“We’re not debating the merits of the vaccine,” countered Pierson. “It should be the parents’ choice based on informed consent and really good conversations with their pediatricians.” Pierson hopes his resolution, which was approved unanimously by the school committee (although the chairperson had a hesitant “yes”) sends a message.
State health officials are asking school nurses and superintendents to be flexible as this mandate is phased in, according to spokesperson Christina Batastini. “We have asked them to make exemption forms available to parents and to be flexible,” she said in an email. “The Rhode Island Department of Health absolutely does not want children missing school because of their HPV vaccination status.”
Students can get a temporary exemption if they have an appointment to get vaccinated. School nurses don’t report their schools’ immunization information to the Department of Health until November.
As with other mandated vaccines, parents can exempt their kids for religious or medical reasons.
Pierson is more concerned about the principle of it all. “They’ve moved past a recommendation into a mandate and that’s our concern,” he said.
Gina Raimondo’s Press Secretary, Marie Aberger, emailed a statement on the governor’s behalf, which reads:
“These regulations were finalized over a year ago after a public hearing. The Governor recognizes there are concerns about mandatory vaccinations, but the CDC recommends the HPV vaccine as a safe and effective way to help prevent cancer in males and females and save lives. As a mom, she supports steps to help our children and families be as healthy as possible.”
© WLNE-TV 2015
