Girl faces deportation over vaccine

UPI
Sep. 15, 2009

PORT ST. JOE, Fla., Sept. 12 (UPI) -- An adopted teen who has lived in Port St. Joe, Fla. since she was 3 faces possible deportation to England for refusing a vaccination, she and her mother say.

Simone Davis, 17, said she has no need for the vaccine Gardasil, which guards against the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus virus, because she is not sexually active, ABC News reported.

But the U.S. government requires female immigrants between the ages of 11 and 26 to receive Gardasil shots before they can become citizens.

Simone was abandoned as a baby in England and adopted at 3 by her paternal grandmother, Jean Davis, who married an American and moved to Port St. Joe, Fla.

Jean Davis started applying for citizenship for Simone nearly 10 years ago, ABC said.

As a devout Christian who has taken a virginity pledge, Simone argues she is in no danger of getting cervical cancer and sees no reason to get the vaccine. American-born girls are encouraged, but not required, to get the vaccine.

Simone and Jean Davis sought a waiver on moral and religious grounds, but were turned down. They have 30 days to appeal the ruling. Without citizenship, Simone can be sent back to England, ABC said.

"I kind of feel like they may be experimenting with immigrants to see how we will react and then give the vaccine to citizens," Simone said. "If it is such a great vaccine, why isn't it mandatory for everyone?"

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