Kids as young as 12 may be allowed to get vaccinated without their parents' permission if a new law is passed in California.
The changes would apply to FDA approved shots, including COVID-19 vaccines.
Almost one million Californians ages 12 through 17 are not vaccinated against COVID-19. Alvin, 18, executive director of advocacy organization GENup, has spoken with some of those kids.
"We've certainly heard stories of students who want to get the COVID-19 vaccine, even the first dose, but their parents might be anti-vaxxers or for certain reasons their parents are not letting them," he told KCBS Radio. "It's just really disheartening to see because this is a public health issue."
Senator Scott Wiener has introduced legislation that would lower the age of consent from 18 to 12, so that kids could go ahead and get their shots without needing to involve their parents.
"We're confident that of those nearly million teens who are unvaccinated, that a chunk of them would get vaccinated if they could do it on their own," Weiner said during a press conference.
The age of consent is already 12 for the HPV and Hepatitis B vaccines, this would bring other FDA approved vaccines in line. If the legislation passes and is approved by Gov. Gavin Newsom, the changes could take effect next January.
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