HPV Timeline

A list of important dates related to Gov. Rick Perry's mandate requiring all sixth-grade girls to be vaccinated against the human papillomavirus, or HPV. Merck & Co.'s Gardasil vaccine is the only such vaccine on the market.
June 8: The Food and Drug Administration approves Gardasil for use in girls and women ages 9 to 26.
June 29: An influential government advisory panel recommends that 11- and 12-year-old girls be routinely vaccinated against the sexually transmitted virus that causes cervical cancer.
Aug. 15: Two Perry staffers meet with a Merck lobbyist for an ``HPV Vaccine update,'' documents obtained by The Associated Press show. Deirdre Delisi, Perry's chief of staff, has lunch with another Merck lobbyist, Mike Toomey, her predecessor in the governor's office. Perry spokesman Robert Black said he did not know what they discussed.
Oct. 16: Delisi meets with budget director and other aides to discuss the cost of giving the vaccine for free to young women on Medicaid, the documents show.
Nov. 1: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention adds Gardasil to the federal Vaccines for Children program, which provides free vaccines to children through age 18 who cannot afford it.
Nov. 7: Perry is re-elected with 39 percent of the vote.
Nov. 10: Delisi meets with Toomey, the documents show. Black said he does not know what they discussed.
Jan. 5: Delisi meets with Toomey and another man, the documents show. Black said he does not know what they discussed.
Feb. 2: Perry issues executive order mandating the vaccine for schoolgirls.
Feb. 21: House public health committee passes bill aimed at overriding Perry's order.