House File 530 & Senate File 243: HPV Vaccination Required

Sponsors:
House File 530: Representatives Ron Erhardt, Linda Slocum, Erin Murphy, and Phyllis Kahn

Senate File 243: Senator Yvonne Prettner Solon

Summary:
House File 530 and Senate File 243 add the vaccine against human papillomavirus to the schedule of immunizations required to enroll a child in a school or child care facility. Girls ages 12 through 19 must receive at least three doses of the vaccine. As with other immunizations, parents or guardians may refuse the vaccination for the child on the basis of “conscientiously held beliefs.”

Status:

1/25/2007		(Senate) S.F. 243: Introduction and first reading
1/25/2007		(Senate) S.F. 243: Referred to Health, Housing and Family Security Committee
2/1/2007		(House) H.F. 530: Introduction and first reading
2/1/2007		(House) H.F. 530: Referred to Health and Human Services Committee
2/5/2007		(House) H.F. 530: Authors added (Erhardt, Slocum, and Peterson, S.)
2/8/2007		(House) H.F. 530: Author stricken (Peterson, S.)
2/12/2007		(House) H.F. 530: Authors changed-Rudd (stricken), Kahn (Chief)

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, Minnesota law does allow parents to refuse the vaccination.

Action Requested:
None.

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 Minnesota.

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’s Genital HPV Infection—CDC Fact Sheet.

Other Resources

Senate File 243 Bill Text

Senate File 243 Bill History

House Bill 530 File Text