The Alabama House of Representatives passed a bill Thursday that would require doctors, clinics and pharmacies to get permission from a parent or guardian before administering a vaccine to anyone between the ages of 14 and 18. HB165 It is sponsored by State Rep. Chip Brown.

“House Bill 165 is a parental rights bill,” said Rep. Brown (R-Hollinger's Island). “Currently, under Alabama law, children over the age of 14 – the age at which a doctor's consent is required in Alabama – do not need parental consent to undergo any medical procedure, nor do they need parental consent to receive a vaccination. This bill provides that parental consent is required for all vaccinations offered in Alabama.”

“This is just a way for parents to be involved and understand what's going on,” Brown said, “so that if there are any side effects to the vaccination, for example if they get vaccinated at school, the parents have no idea. This is a way to provide information to parents and oversee their children's medical care. I believe in parental consent.”

State Rep. Mary Moore (D-Birmingham) said she wants to allow teenagers who want to change their gender to get hormone injections without parental permission.

“There have already been several bills passed that say that when it comes to people who want to change their gender, there's nothing they can do after they turn 19,” Moore said. “Both males and females can get vaccinated so that they can grow into the gender they want. When I saw this bill, it concerned me.”

Brown clarified that the bill only deals with vaccines.

“This happened at one school I know when they administered flu shots to kids,” Brown said. “There's nothing wrong with giving flu shots, but the parents were not informed. “Parents were not given any paperwork. This bill simply ensures that they have to vaccinate so that parents can't vaccinate their children unless they consent. This is simply a parental rights bill.”

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Rep. Shane Stringer (R-Satsuma) said, “As a parent of six kids, I appreciate your work here, and I absolutely want to be notified about these things that involve my kids. Like you said, there's nothing wrong with flu shots, COVID and other things, but I absolutely want to be notified and have a say in what my kids get or don't get. I appreciate your work.”

Rep. Marilyn Lands (D-Madison) spoke in opposition to the bill.

“I have a lot of concerns about this bill,” Rands said, “especially since the age of consent is 14, I don't understand why it would exclude vaccines from all other medical and mental health services. I think vaccines should still remain under that umbrella.”

“There are 41 states that require this,” Brown said, “and we're pursuing other states. As a parent, I want to know if my child has had any vaccines. This is not an anti-vaccine bill. To me, it was an insult that Congress passed a bill in 1975 that did not require them to notify me, the parent.”

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“I understand and respect your concerns,” Rands said. “Children have the right to consent for themselves. I am particularly concerned about the HPV vaccine. The reality is, there are situations where a child wants to get that vaccine, but the father is a rapist. There are a variety of cases where I think children should be able to consent for themselves.”

“I believe this is an overreach of government power,” Rands continued. “Families who want to vaccinate but don't want parents involved in that decision are doing so for very valid reasons, and I want to protect their children. The unintended consequences of this could be devastating for many children. I urge everyone to vote against this overreach of government power.”

The House adopted a replacement bill from the committee.

“What this facility did was make provisions for minor, orphaned children who may be living with their grandparents, who may not be in a traditional home environment, who may be living on their own,” Brown explained. “This facility made provisions for those kids.”

Rep. Brett Easterbrook (R-Chatman) said, “I thank you for introducing this bill. I don't think it's right. It's a government overreach when someone can vaccinate a child without parental consent. This is a government overreach. This has nothing to do with rapists. I don't think there is a rape vaccine. Rape and abuse are reportable. The idea that the government should be deciding on behalf of parents what vaccines children should and shouldn't get, I think that's a government overreach.”

House Bill 165 passed the House on a bipartisan vote of 81 to 17. The bill now heads to the Alabama Senate. Tuesday marks the 25th day of the 2024 state legislative session.

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