Washington, D.C. Council Approves Law Allowing Children as Young as 11 to be Vaccinated Without Parents’ Knowledge

In a blatant threat to parental rights, the Washington, D.C. City Council is in the process of passing a new law that would allow children as young as age 11 to obtain vaccinations without their parents’ knowledge or consent.

The intent of the law is to evade parental objections on religious, moral or any other grounds that would prevent government-recommended vaccinations against diseases such as the human papillomavirus, which is sexually transmitted. Parents who might otherwise object to their son or daughter receiving that vaccination would not be consulted or informed.

The law allows a doctor to make the determination that the child is capable of “informed consent,” a legal term meaning that the patient is mature and knowledgeable enough to make the decision based on the medical information made available to him or her. The law in most states limits that legal age of consent to 18 and older.

To suggest that an 11-year-old is capable of giving “informed consent” to anything as serious as a medical treatment is not only ludicrous, but dangerous.

To keep the deception from being revealed, the doctors and insurance companies are required to keep parents out of the loop. Doctors confirm the vaccination to the schools, and insurance companies pay the doctors directly.

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, council members expressed urgency in getting this bill passed, which still needs a final council vote on November 10, as well as Mayor Muriel Bowser’s signature.

Council member Mary Cheh believes that parents are “barriers” to achieving success in immunizing children.

“Given our ongoing pandemic and the incredible work being done to develop a COVID-19 vaccine, it’s more important than ever I think that we reduce any and all barriers to these treatments and this legislation aims to do just that by increasing access to vaccines for minors who choose to get vaccinated but have not been able to do so,” she said.

The only council member to vote against the measure at its first reading was Trayon White.

“Parents have a fundamental right to direct the upbringing, education and care of their children. Medical professionals and schools should not be permitted to coerce impressionable minors into procedures capable of causing injury or death behind their parents’ back,” White said.

The bill as originally proposed by Cheh would have applied to any child of any age, not just those 11 and older.

A few states allow minors to access vaccines, but most limit it to “emancipated” minors, if at all, and have varying age limits and other restrictions. South Carolina, for example, allows minors age 16 and older to make health care decisions for themselves.

The new law appears to violate another of D.C.’s municipal regulations that guarantees parents’ religious freedom to make decisions concerning their children’s vaccinations.

Section 5300.11 of the DC Municipal Regulations states, “The immunization requirements subject to this Chapter, shall not apply to any student whose parent or guardian objects in writing to the immunization on grounds that the medical treatment or medical test is forbidden by their religion or religious beliefs and practices.”

Should the proposed law be passed on November 10 and signed by the Mayor, the bill does not become official until it is sent to the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, which have 30 days to enact a joint resolution disapproving and negating the legislation.

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