Legislative Bill 30: HPV Vaccination Required for Girls

Author:
Councilmembers David Catania, Mary Cheh

Co-sponsored by Councilmembers Marion Barry, Kwame Brown, Jack Evans, Phil Mendelson, Carol Schwartz, Tommy Wells, and Vincent Gray

Summary:
Legislative Bill 30 requires, beginning in 2008, that girls enrolling in 6th grade at a District of Columbia school receive the human papillomavirus vaccination. Parents or guardians may refuse the vaccination for the child on the basis of religious beliefs, medical necessity, or informed non-consent.

Status:

1/9/2007		Introduced
1/12/2007		Referred to Health Committee
4/3/2007		First Reading
4/3/2007		Initial approval, Roll Call Vote 7-3
4/19/2007		Final Reading, Roll Call Vote 7-3
4/26/2007		Transmitted to Mayor
5/4/2007		Act/Resolution #A17-0039
5/7/2007		Received from Mayor
5/17/2007		Transmitted to Congress
7/12/2007		Adopted into law L17-0010

HSLDA's Position:
Neutral. We believe that immunizations, particularly immunizations of this nature, should not be forced upon children. Individual families should be allowed to decide whether they want their children to receive them. At this time, Bill 17-0030 does allow parents to refuse the vaccination.

Action Requested:
None at this time.

Background:
Human papillomavirus, or HPV, is a group of viruses that have about 100 different strains or types. Over 30 of these viruses are sexually transmitted.

The vaccine, Gardasil, will not cure or treat HPV. There is currently no cure for these sexually transmitted viruses. Even the FDA and the CDC admit the only “cure” is abstinence before marriage and a monogamous relationship during marriage.

HSLDA believes that parents should be the ones to determine whether this immunization is right for their daughters, and it should not be forced upon them by the legislature. This is more of a parental rights issue than a homeschool issue. However, it is vitally important that homeschool families take a stand for parental freedom in the District of Columbia.

While the body’s immune system deals with most HPV infections and no symptoms occur, there are several types that can cause cancer or genital warts. For more information about HPV see the Center for Disease Control and Prevention HPV Fact Sheet.

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