The Iowa Senate Health and Human Services Committee advanced a bill Wednesday that prohibits the ability of a minor to consent for vaccinations related to sexually transmitted diseases or infections.
Senate File 2064 removes a minor’s ability to consent to such vaccines, which supporters of the bill say conflicts with federal law that requires parental consent for the vaccination of a minor.
Democrat State Sen. Zach Wahls “strongly urged” a no vote during the committee. He said it is a step that the Health and Human Services Committee should not take and expressed concern it will limit access to vaccines that allegedly protect against such viruses.
Supporters of the bill counter, saying access will not be impacted at all — minors will simply need parental consent.
Wahls expressed concern over Iowa’s high cancer rates and said vaccines like the HPV vaccine help reduce cases of cancer. Wahls called the HPV vaccine a “proven and reliable” cancer prevention tool.
All Republicans on the committee voted in support of the bill while Democrats all opposed the measure.
