Children Can Get HPV Vaccine Without Consent

One of the bills signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown, over the weekend is AB499.

The law allows children who are 12 years old to consent to medical care related to sexually transmitted disease prevention without their parents permission. 

This means a girl in sixth grade can ask for the human papillomavirus vaccine without letting her parents know.

The governor signed it without comment, posting it on the list of actions taken to "improve the health and wellbeing of Californians.

The law follows Center of Disease Control recommendations.

The CDC says girls should get the vaccine to protect them from the virus before they become sexually active. Nearly 70 percent of cervical cancers are linked to a strain of HPV that can be treated by vaccines, according to the CDC.

The HPV vaccine involves taking three shots over a six-month period.

Pediatrician Christine Halaburka said the bill is consistent with a current law that allows access to birth control without parental consent.  Halaburka added that she doesn't expect to see any 12-year-old patients asking for the shots, but can see it benefiting older teens.

Parent Tracy LeBlanc can see the benefits of the HPV vaccine, but said 12 years of age is too young to be making that kind of decision.

"I think it’s slowly stripping away parents' rights and as a parent I signed up to take care of my daughter until she's 18 and make all decisions about her medical care,” LeBlanc said. “But now the state has made this decision for me and I think that is wrong.”

The new law takes effect on New Year's Day.

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