(Radio Iowa) – An Iowa Senate subcommittee advanced a bill this week that would require parental consent for minors to get a vaccine to prevent H-P-V.
The shot helps protect against strains of the virus that can cause six types of cancer. Senator Sandy Salmon, a Republican from Janesville, says parents should have a say over all their children’s vaccinations. Senator Janet Petersen, a Democrat from Des Moines, says she agrees with health care providers who spoke out against the legislation. She says the vaccine is safe and effective and the choice gives adolescents autonomy over their own bodies.
The Centers for Disease Control recommends the H-P-V vaccine as a routine vaccination for 11- and 12-year-olds. Iowa is one of just a few states that does not require parental consent to get the vaccine.
