A look at legislation passed or introduced by states and the District of Columbia since 2007 regarding the HPV vaccine. Several other states provided money for girls to receive the vaccine, either through legislation or the budgeting process.
SCHOOLS
_Virginia and the District of Columbia passed legislation in 2007 that requires girls entering the sixth grade beginning this year to receive the HPV vaccine unless their parents or guardians opt out.
_Mandates were proposed in the following states but failed: Kentucky, New Mexico, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont and West Virginia.
INSURANCE COVERAGE
_The following states passed legislation requiring health insurers to provide coverage for the vaccine: Oregon, Iowa, Colorado, Illinois, Nevada, New Mexico and Rhode Island.
EDUCATION
_The following states require schools or health departments to provide HPV and vaccination information, and in some cases provide the vaccine: Louisiana, Michigan, Colorado, Indiana, Iowa, New Jersey, North Carolina, Maine, North Dakota, Texas and Washington. Utah passed legislation in 2007 establishing an awareness campaign on the causes, prevention and risks of cervical cancer.
STUDY
_In Maryland, Minnesota and New Mexico, lawmakers ordered further study of the vaccine.
Source: The National Conference of State Legislatures.
