Author: Paul Ratner / Source: Big Think
- Teens 14 and older should be able to get vaccinated on their own, says a new bill in New York.
- Lawmakers were inspired by Ethan Lindenberger, an Ohio teen who fought to take vaccines against his mom’s wishes.
- Anti-vaccination attitudes have been blamed for recent measles outbreaks.
Should kids who are old enough be allowed to make their own vaccination decisions? Such is the proposal being considered in New York, where a new bill would allow teens over 14 to get some vaccines without having to ask their parents.
What makes the bill particularly relevant is that there have been a growing number of outbreaks of preventable diseases across the country. For instance, in 2018, the majority of measles outbreaks in New York happened primarily among the unvaccinated, as reports ABC News. A major 2019 measles outbreak in Washington State is also being blamed mainly on the people who didn’t get vaccinated.
The NY bill was also inspired by the national story of the 18-year-old Ethan Lindenberger of Ohio who went against his mother’s wishes to get vaccinated. In…
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