Bill in D.C. Council to allow 11-year-olds to decide on vaccines

Share this article:

First of a two parts

The following article was printed in the Defender Children’s Health Defence News & views.

Proposed D.C. law would give vaccine decisions to kids 11 or older without parents’ knowledge or consent:

“Children could consent to vaccines without parents’ permission, while insurance companies, vaccine providers, and schools would be required to conceal that the child has been vaccinated.”

By the National Vaccine Information Center:

“Your action is needed to stop a predatorial bill in the District of Columbia that would not only permit children 11 years old and older to consent to vaccines on their own without parental knowledge or consent, but requires insurance companies, vaccine providers, and schools to conceal the fact that the child has been vaccinated from the parent.

“B23-0171 was passed 12 to 1 at the October 20 first reading, and it was announced that it would have a second reading and final vote by the D.C. Council at the legislative meeting scheduled for November 10 at 10 a.m. Council. Member Trayon White Sr. was the only Council member to vote against the bill because it violates parental rights. The discussion of the bill starts at 5:36 in the archived video.

“However, at the November 10 meeting, the bill was postponed for the final reading and vote until Tuesday, Nov. 17. You can watch the discussion on the archived video beginning at the 39:50 time stamp.

“Council member Vincent Gray, chair of the Health Committee, had proposed an amendment to require the vaccine provider to notify the insurer that the immunization has been provided under the authority of the ‘Minor Consent for Vaccinations Amendment Act of 2020’, so the insurer will know that they should not send an explanation of benefits for the vaccination. This amendment underscores the intention of deception to keep parents in the dark about their children’s receiving liability-free vaccines without their knowledge, or consent. Fortunately, because Council member Gray was not able to attend the meeting and answer questions about his amendment, the vote on the bill was postponed….

“The National Vaccine Information Center (NVIC) first alerted our members to this bill when it was scheduled for a hearing originally in June 2019. After no activity for more than a year, the bill was just passed by a voice vote in a virtual meeting of the Health Committee October 7, after it was amended to make it even worse. In the archived video, the amendments are discussed at the 8:44 mark and the sponsor’s comments begin at 9:48 time mark.

“The chair of the health committee who passed the bill, Vincent C. Gray (D-Ward 7), was quoted in the Washington Post saying ‘the hope of an imminent corona­virus vaccine gave the bill new urgency.’

“If the bill passes second reading, it goes to the mayor who has up to 10 days to sign the bill, let it go into effect without a signature, or veto it. If the mayor vetoes the bill, the Council can override the veto by a two-thirds vote.

“The final step before becoming law is the bill must be sent to the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate for a period of 30 days before becoming effective as law. During this period of congressional review, the Congress may enact into law a joint resolution disapproving the Council’s act. If, during the review period, the president approves the joint resolution, the Council’s act is prevented from becoming law. If, however, upon the expiration of the congressional review period, no joint resolution disapproving the Council’s act has been approved by the president, the bill finally becomes a law and is assigned a law number.”

Action needed:

“1. Contact members of D.C. Council Committee of the Whole and ask them to vote no on B23-0171 at the second reading November 17. See reasons to oppose and committee contact information below.

“Only those who live, work, or send their kids to school in the District of Columbia should be contacting Council members to oppose this bill, but we need everyone, no matter where you live, to:

a. Share this with all your D.C. contacts.

b. Be ready to contact your congressional representative and two senators to support a resolution to prevent this bill from becoming law.

“2. Contact mayor Muriel Bowser and ask her to veto B23-0171 if it comes to her for consideration.

“3. Login to the NVIC advocacy portal often to check on the status of this bill.”

Reasons to oppose B23-0171:

“B23-0171 permits minor children 11-years-old and older to consent to any vaccine recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) without parental knowledge or consent (lines 33-36).

“A child is less likely than the parent to understand personal and family medical history, including vaccine reactions, allergies, and autoimmune, or neurological disorders.

Continued at thevoice.us/law-clearly-states-parents-right-on-vaccine-decisions

Leave a Reply