A bill currently in its second and final reading in the District of Columbia provides that minors – regularly from the age of eleven – should be able to consent to vaccination without their parents’ knowledge and approval.
The draft law is dated March 5, 2020, and basically covers all vaccinations.
According to the bill, minors of all ages should be able to consent to receive a vaccine if the vaccination is recommended by the competent authority – the United States Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. Informed consent should already be given when a minor is able to understand the need for, the nature of, and any significant risks associated with medical care.
Information of parents about the vaccination process is not provided for. The draft explicitly states that the vaccination certificate should be sent directly to the school by the vaccinator if the parents refuse vaccination for religious reasons or have decided against vaccination against the human papilloma virus.
