* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Holton
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
Title
Celebrating Cervical Health Awareness Month, January 2007 - In Support of State Legislation - Senate Bill 54 - Health - General - Vaccine for Prevention of Cervical Cancer
FOR the purpose of celebrating Cervical Health Awareness Month by expressing support for Senate Bill 54 that requires, by September 2008, that all female children enrolled in the 6th grade be vaccinated against the virus that causes cervical cancer, urging the Honorable Chair and Members of the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee to give the bill a favorable report, asking the Honorable Chairs and Members of the Baltimore City Senate and House Delegations to the Maryland General Assembly to support passage of the measure, and entreating the Governor to sign the bill into law.
Body
Recitals
Statistics from the Baltimore City Health Department show that cancer is the second leading cause of death in Maryland, after heart disease. It is responsible for 24% of all deaths. Baltimore City has the State's highest overall cancer mortality rates, with the most common cancers being breast, oral, colon, and cervical.
The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 10,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year; of these, 3,700 will die within the year. In Baltimore City, the death rate from cancer of the cervix exceeds that national rate, according to statistics compiled by the National Cancer Institute.
Cervical cancer has been strongly associated with Human Papilloma Virus or HPV. There are many types of HPV. Some cause cervical cell abnormality, and some cause genital warts. Other types of this virus cause no harm. Over 80% of the population carries some form of HPV, but most people do not know that they have it because HPV often has no signs or symptoms.
While half of all women diagnosed with cervical cancer are between the ages of 35 and 55, many were probably exposed to a "high-risk" form of HPV in their teens and 20s. For most women, the body's own defense system will clear the virus, and those infected women will not develop related health problems; however, some HPV types can cause abnormal cells on the lining of the cervix that years later can become cancerous.
On June 8, 2006, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced the approval of Gardasil, the first vaccine developed to prevent cervical cancer, precancerous genital lesions, and genital warts due to HPV virus types 6, 11, 16, and 18. The vaccine is approved for use in females 9-26 years of age.
4 studies, 1 in the United States and 3 multinational, showed that the vaccine was nearly 100% effective in preventing precancerous cervical lesions, precancerous vaginal and vulvar lesions, and genital warts caused by infection with the HPV types against which the vaccine is directed in women between the ages of 16 and 26 who had not already been infected.
While the study period was not long enough for cervical cancer to develop, the prevention of the cervical precancerous lesions is believed highly likely to result in the prevention of those cancers. The studies also evaluated whether the vaccine can protect women already infected with some HPV types included in the vaccine from developing diseases related to those viruses. The results show that the vaccine is only effective when given prior to infection.
Requiring vaccination in the early years to ward against a disease that could develop in later years and have devastating effects on the long term health and happiness of our young women and their loved ones seems a prudent step to take. Because of the cancer risks inherent in living in Baltimore City, it is essential that our representatives support all measures that might serve to ameliorate this situation.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That this Body celebrates Cervical Health Awareness Month by expressing support for Senate Bill 54 that requires, by September 2008, that all female children enrolled in the 6th grade be vaccinated against the virus that causes cervical cancer, urges the Honorable Chair and Members of the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee to give the bill a favorable report, asks the Honorable Chairs and Members of the Baltimore City Senate and House Delegations to the Maryland General Assembly to support passage of the measure, and entreats the Governor to sign the bill into law.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the Honorable Chair of the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee is respectfully requested to include this letter of support as part of the Committee record of written testimony.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Governor, the Mayor, the Honorable Chairs and Members of the Baltimore City Senate and House Delegations to the Maryland General Assembly, the Honorable Chair of the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee, the Honorable Dolores G. Kelley, the Baltimore City Health Commissioner, the Executive Director of the Mayor's Office of State Relations, and the Mayor's Legislative Liaison to the City Council.
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