New Hampshire has distributed 14,000 doses of Gardasil (Merck) at no charge since January. The HPV vaccination program aimed at girls 11 to 18 has proven to be 100% effective at preventing HPV which is responsible for 70% of new cervical cancer cases. (Search this blog for "HPV Vaccine" to view related articles). In 2007, New Hampshire will spend almost $5 mil (28% of it's immunization budget) on the Gardasil program. Private insurers and the federal government provide all of the funding.

New Hampshire never sought to make HPV vaccination mandatory and has avoided the controversy and parental backlash experienced with the mandatory proposals in Texas. Virginia has a mandatory HPV Vaccine law but offers parents an option to decline. South Dakota and Washington, have voluntary programs offering free vaccine.