Human papillomavirus vaccination requirement for immigrants raises concerns

This is about money not about the safety of immigrants and US residents. This article talks discussed that issue of requiring immunization against Human Papilloma Virus for female immigrants seeking permanent residence. Not only has the cost of the vaccine increased tremendously it has had lots of controversy regarding its use.
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Human papillomavirus vaccination requirement for immigrants raises concerns
08:00 PM CDT on Saturday,
September 27, 2008
By THALIA I. LONGORIA
Al Día mailto:tlongoria@aldiatx.com

Federal immigration authorities now require immunization against humanpapillomavirus for female immigrants ages 11 to 26 who are seekingpermanent residence.The mandate by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services went intoeffect July 1, but advocacy groups were largely left in the dark aboutthe new requirements, said Priscilla Huang, Reproductive JusticeProject director and women's law fellow at the National Asian PacificAmerican Women's Forum.The vaccine cost tacks on about $375 to the status change fee of$1,410. It is also gender specific and the only vaccine for a sexuallytransmitted disease, leading some women's rights groups to believe themandate is discriminatory.The vaccine has been controversial since it was introduced to markettwo years ago. In February 2007, Gov. Rick Perry wanted to make theshot mandatory for all sixth-grade girls in Texas. The executive orderwa s shot down.Maria Elena Garcia-Upson, spokeswoman for Citizenship and ImmigrationServices in Dallas, said the vaccines are in no way meant deny ordeter people from the application process.She said Citizenship and Immigration Services is simply followingrecommendations given by the Centers for Disease Control andPrevention. There is funding for the vaccine through the CDC'sVaccines for Children program, but adult women may find it harder topay for the shots."I think the public would agree that people who are coming into thiscountry to adjust their status, if they have a contagious disease, wedon't want that disease to be spread around," Ms. Garcia-Upson said.Ana Correa, executive director of the Texas Criminal JusticeCoalition, said the cost of the vaccine will be another barrier forwomen seeking legal status. She said that application fees forimmigrants have recently risen."What we have noticed is that applying for citizenship decreases asthe fees go up," she said. "I don't think it's a coincidence thatthey're pushing for a policy that would provide a burden on immigrants."Jennifer Ng'andu, associate director of health policy at the NationalCouncil of La Raza, said the mandate is of concern."There are benefits to the vaccine, and we're not trying to downplaythem, but this vaccine is not accompanied by education, and they'reonly going to be requiring this for one group of people," she said."It's outrageous."

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