(February 22, 2007)—Gov. Rick Perry Thursday angrily defended his embattled order to vaccinate Texas schoolgirls against the virus that causes cervical cancer.
Perry, during an appearance in Houston, said it would have been irresponsible to ignore Merck's ideas for requiring the shots statewide.
Perry fended off questions about his relationship with Merck, which makes the Gardasil vaccine.
New Jersey-based Merck this week suspended its state-by-state lobbying campaign for laws requiring use of Gardasil.
The Associated Press reports Perry's chief of staff met with key aides about the vaccine on Oct. 16, the same date Merck's political action committee donated $5,000 to the Republican governor's campaign.
Perry says critics are getting lost on the campaign contributions, which he said were just a small share of the $24 million he raised and had no effect on his decision.
http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/5995501.htmlOur Charlie Crist in cowboy boots.
