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House Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
House of Representatives
Session of 2023 - 2024
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | January 29, 2024 04:09 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Representative Russ Diamond |
| To: | All House members |
| Subject: | Vaccine Consent for Minors |
| In the near future, I will be introducing legislation to establish the age at which an individual may consent to receive a vaccine. Currently, there is no state law which provides a minimum age at which an individual may consent to receive a vaccine. It recently came to my attention that under its General Minor Consent Regulation, the City of Philadelphia authorizes the practice of vaccinating children without parental or guardian consent for children as young as 11 years of age. Further, the regulation specifies on page 6 that written consent by the minor is not required so long as they are provided a copy of the vaccine information statement. https://www.phila.gov/media/20190716120557/BOH-School-and-Childcare-Immunization-Regulations-Consolidated-July-19-2019.pdf Once an individual receives a vaccine, that procedure cannot be undone. Minor children are not competent to make such decisions for themselves. As such, Pennsylvania needs to establish a standard minimum age of consent for vaccines and keep parents and guardians in control of medical decisions for their children. My legislation will reflect other existing statewide standards, in that only individuals who are of age or who have met specific conditions under our current laws would be able to consent to receiving a vaccine without parental or guardian consent . Please join me in co-sponsoring this important piece of legislation |
Introduced as HB2131
Memo Updated: January 29, 2024 04:10 PM