Required Cervical Cancer Vaccinations

Controversial New Bill Would Require All Girls Under 13 to Receive Cervical Cancer Vaccination

Under a bill introduced by the D.C. Council this week, female students enrolling in the sixth grade would be asked to show proof of receiving the new nationally debated vaccine against cervical cancer. If the bill passes, the District would be one of the first jurisdictions in the country to require girls younger than 13 years old to be vaccinated for HPV.

The following is excerpted from Nikita Stewart and Rob Stein’s article in the January 10th, 2007 Washington Post:

A parent or legal guardian would have the right to “opt out” of the requirement, Catania said, but the bill does not detail under what circumstances exemptions would be permitted.

Similar proposals are pending in Kentucky and California, and several other states are also considering such legislation. A bill to require the vaccine failed last year in Michigan.

Read the entire article here.