Connecticut Democrat Introduces State Bill To Allow Kids 12 And Older To Get Vaccines Without Parental Consent

Connecticut Democratic lawmaker introduced a bill allowing children aged 12 and over to receive vaccines with no parental consent.

Democratic State Rep. Kevin Ryan, who represents Connecticut’s 139th District, introduced House Bill 5480 This week.

“The legislation proposed is an issue that has been an important concern for my constituent. As their representative, it’s my duty to express their requests and ensure their concerns have been taken seriously, especially on a health care issue,” Ryan said.

The state House submitted the proposal to the Joint Committee on Public Health. according to WSFB-TV.

It is uncertain whether Ryan’s bill will receive a floor vote. The decision will be determined by the state House’s health committee.

State House Minority Leader Vinnie Candelora, a Republican, spoke out against Ryan’s legislation.

“It’s a road that Connecticut keeps trying to push, the Democrats keep pushing this issue and I think it’s really important to have parents involved in their child’s lives so I find the proposal very disturbing,” According to WSFB-TV, Candelora stated that.

Connecticut law requires that anyone under the age of 18 receive vaccines in Connecticut. This is in accordance with current state law. according to The Kaiser Family Foundation.

To receive COVID vaccines, parental consent is required in 43 states. Most states require parental consent up to the age of 18. Oregon teenagers are allowed to receive COVID vaccines at age 15 without parental consent, while Rhode Island and North Carolina allow vaccinations at age 16 without parental consent.

On February 20, 2022, Democratic California State Senator Scott Wiener proposed A similar bill was introduced in his state, which would have allowed minors aged 12 and over to get COVID vaccines with no parental consent. It was rejected due to concerns about government overreach.

American Academy of Pediatrics stated As of January 4, 2017, approximately 17.8 million children aged 12-17 had received at least one dose. 15.2 million have received two doses.

The report estimates that 8.4 million 12-to-17-year olds have not received the COVID vaccination.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends If eligible, COVID vaccines are available for all ages 6 months and over, as well as COVID boosters to anyone aged 5 and older.

Last week’s data showed that 93% of U.S. kindergarten children received their required immunizations in the 2021-22 school years. This represents a 1% decline nationwide.

“While 1 percentage point might not seem concerning, that one percent represents tens of thousands of children who are inadequately protected from diseases we can easily prevent through immunization,” Michelle Fiscus is the chief medical officer of the Association of Immunization Managers. according to The Associated Press.

Recent headlines focused on the concern after measles cases increased across the country, in particular in Ohio, following the nearly complete elimination of the disease.

“This national trend is alarming, especially as we see outbreaks of measles in Ohio among children who are too young to be vaccinated and those who are inadequately vaccinated. We need all hands on deck to get these children protected,” Fiscus was added.

Ryan was contacted by The Daily Wire to comment on the legislation.