Gov. Rick Perry says he won't veto a bill that would block state officials from following his order requiring an anti-cancer vaccine for schoolgirls.
On Tuesday, Perry defended his executive order requiring the human papilloma virus vaccine for sixth-grade girls starting in September 2008.
But Perry acknowledged the overwhelming disdain of legislators for the mandate and says he'll allow the bill to become law without his signature.
Perry had until midnight Tuesday to decide what to do.
A veto almost certainly would have been overridden by legislators, who've questioned the vaccine's safety, effectiveness and cost.
Critics also say the mandate intrudes on the lives of Texas families.
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Perry holds veto
News 8 Austin's Catie Beck discusses Perry's decision not to veto the bill blocking his HPV executive order.
 
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The bill would bar state officials from requiring the shots for four years. Then lawmakers could extend the ban or allow health officials to add HPV shots to the list of vaccinations required for school attendance.
"It's time to extract this issue from the political arena, and place it in the court of public opinion, where real lives are at stake," Perry said.
Perry wrapped up the press conference with a videotape made by Heather Burcham, a terminally ill cervical cancer patient. In the video, she encourages young women to get the HPV vaccine, which has been shown effective in preventing cervical cancer.
