Gov. will veto bill on HPV vaccine

Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson said in Santa Fe that he would veto a bill that would have required New Mexico girls entering sixth grade to be vaccinated against a sexually transmitted virus that can cause cervical cancer.

Richardson had indicated he would sign the bill after it passed the Legislature last month. He said he changed his mind after parents and doctors told him their concerns about the program.

“While everyone recognizes the benefits of this vaccine, there is insufficient time to educate parents, schools and healthcare providers,” he said.

The measure would have required girls entering sixth grade this fall to be vaccinated against the human papillomavirus before they enter public or private school. Richardson did sign a related bill that requires health insurance providers to cover the vaccine.