Haley vetoes bill providing access to HPV vaccine

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Gov. Nikki Haley has vetoed a bill allowing the state’s public health agency to provide information on and access to a free vaccine that prevents a sexually transmitted, cancer-causing virus.

The bill calls for informational brochures on the vaccine for human papillomavirus, known as HPV, to be provided to parents of sixth-graders. Parents could choose to have their seventh-graders receive the vaccine. The bill specifies that the brochures and free vaccines depend on funding.

Haley argues the funding caveat means the bill does nothing. She also argues it’s a suspended unfunded mandate.

She says she doesn’t want the government putting out information on a vaccine parents should discuss with their family doctors.

Sponsoring Rep. Bakari Sellers says Haley’s using political jargon to put politics ahead of women’s health.