Brown to Decide State's HPV Vaccine Debate

A measure awaiting action by Gov. Jerry Brown would allow youths age 12 and older to receive STD prevention services without parental consent.

AB 499 is sponsored by Assembly member Toni Atkins (D-San Diego). While it does not make prevention services mandatory, the bill aims to boost minors’ access to services including vaccination against human papillomavirus (HPV) and hepatitis, and HIV post-exposure prophylaxis.

“What this adds is them being able to receive prevention ... which is obviously a very important part of health care,” said Dr. Dorothy Furgerson, chief medical officer for Planned Parenthood Mar Monte. “If you can prevent a cancer with a vaccine, shouldn’t you do that?”

AB 499 sets 12 as the minimum age for receiving preventive services without parental consent, aligning it with existing law on treatment and conforming to federal age guidelines for HPV vaccination. Some parents are not involved in making health care decisions for their children, supporters say, and increasing access to preventive services could help combat rising STD rates in young people.

But a coalition of vaccine opponents, family groups, and others says the bill takes away parents’ rights. Brown’s office has received so many calls about AB 499 that it has set up a voicemail box exclusively for the issue. The governor has not taken a position on the measure.

Anti-vaccine activist Dawn Winkler, executive director of Health Advocacy in the Public Interest, worries youths may feel pressured to get vaccinated without fully understanding the potential side effects. “It’s just a matter of how can a 12-year-old possibly assess risk-vs.-benefit information and make a medical decision for themselves without the knowledge or consent of their parent?” she asked.

The Friends of AIDS Foundation is dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.

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