The women of Texas may be cervical cancer-free in the future, thanks to new vaccine. Earlier this month, Texas governor Republican Rick Perry signed an executive order mandating that girls entering the sixth grade must receive a vaccine recently approved by the FDA that protects against common strains of human papilloma virus. And while such a plan may one day save taxpayers money – an ounce of prevention is indeed worth a pound of cure – the current proposal is premature and mired in political intrigue.

Gardisal, the vaccine developed by pharmaceutical company Merck, guards against cervical cancer by protecting against four common strains of HPV, a common sexually transmitted disease. According to Merck, two of the strains are responsible for 70 percent of cervical cancer cases and the two others for 90 percent of genital warts.The vaccine can be given to girls ages nine to 26.

Perry sidestepped the state legislature by signing the order rather than allowing Texans to decide for themselves whether their daughters need the vaccine. But the governor has come under fire because of his cozy relationship with the pharmaceutical giant. According to election documentation, Merck donated $5,000 to Perry’s re-election campaign and Perry’s former chief of staff, Mike Toomey, is currently a lobbyist for the company.

After taking flak for lobbying, Merck recently decided to discontinue lobbying for mandatory use of the vaccine, but 20 states are currently considering making it mandatory.

Although they may have been motivated by the promise of campaign funding and the push from lobbyists, the governor’s actions are a step in the right direction. It is important that girls get the vaccine while still young – hopefully before they start having sex – giving them time to develop antibodies. An entire type of cancer could be virtually eradicated by this vaccine, eliminating approximately 3,700 deaths in the United States each year.

Cost, however, is a major deterrent to widespread use of the vaccine. With three shots necessary for the vaccine to be effective, at $120 each, Gardisal is one of the most expensive vaccines around, and many insurance companies are failing to reimburse medical practices enough to make carrying it worthwhile. But the vaccine can be cost-effective in that the initial price is minuscule relative to the cost of cancer treatment.

Perry’s surprising decision has also alienated many of his fellow conservative Christians. Some conservatives and parents-rights groups oppose opt-out vaccinations because they believe the vaccine could encourage promiscuous behavior, since it protects against one of the more common STDs. They have also accused the governor of interfering with the way they parent their children. Opponents should be comforted, however, by the opt-out nature of the policy, which would allow them to excuse their daughters from vaccination.

Regardless of opposition, the vaccine will not promote devious sexual behavior. Hepatitis B, for instance, also spreads through sexual contact and is one of the many required vaccinations for schoolchildren. Yet this requirement has not encouraged additional promiscuous behavior.

The issue isn’t about how HPV is spread, but how it can be prevented. There are still other STDs that make low-risk, unprotected sex untenable. Additionally, those recommending the vaccine for young women note that the fear of STDs among teens does not lead to abstinence and most teens are unaware of HPV and its link to cervical cancer.

Even with safe sex practices, girls still risk acquiring HPV because it can be spread through simple skin-to-skin contact.

While the vaccine’s purpose is promising, it is too soon for Gardisal to be mandatory. The vaccine is still very new and more research would be reassuring before millions of schoolgirls are required to take it.

For changes like this to be effective, insurance companies must also cover the cost of the vaccine. The uninsured need to receive the treatment as well, at places such as Planned Parenthood. Currently, only a few Planned Parenthood offices provide the vaccine.

While a mandatory opt-out policy for Gardisal is a great idea, it is somewhat premature. The word on the vaccine is just getting out and it has not been around long enough to establish a good reputation. It is understandable that people would be uncomfortable with giving their daughters a new vaccine.

Ultimately, this isn’t just about women’s health; Merck is going to make a lot of money off of the governor’s new law, adding weight to the pocketbooks of high-up executives.

Perhaps in the future, every young girl will receive vaccines like Gardisal and women’s lives will be brighter and healthier.