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SALT LAKE CITY — Teen moms could be immunized without parental consent if a bill that passed a House committee meeting Tuesday becomes law.
HB13S2 would allow a minor who is pregnant or already a parent to consent to immunizations for him or herself. The measure is being sponsored by House Minority Leader Jen Seelig, D-Salt Lake.
Gary Edwards, executive director of Salt Lake Valley Health Department, testified that unvaccinated teen mothers has been a public health problem.
"This (bill) is good for public health," he said.
It's not uncommon for physicians to want to vaccinate teen mothers for diseases — such as pertussis — who don't have communication with their family, Edwards said. Currently, "that is not able to happen."
Vaccines are one of the most important public health policies in the last century, Robert Rolfs, director of disease control and prevention at the Utah Department of Health said. But because of busy schedules and other factors "it is not easy to get people vaccinated."
"This bill helps to eliminate the potential for one of those missed opportunities," he said.
Members of the public addressed concern about the lack of parental involvement in the proposed bill.
"Immunizations are not a no-brainer medical decision," said Laura Bunker, director of United Families, a family advocacy group.
Some medical professionals are divided on the safety of the HPV vaccine, a vaccine meant to prevent cervical cancer, she said. "It's just not as cut-and-dry as it may appear on the surface."
Andrew Pavia, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at University of Utah Health Care, responded, "The risks that have emerged so far are relatively small."
The measure unanimously passed the Health and Human Services Committee and now moves to the House for consideration.
E-mail: averzello@desnews.com
