Meeting Public Comments

Kevin Hendress

Parents should have the ability to make this serious decision for the kids and need to know due to side affects which do occur! The current law 139a.35 is in violation of Federal law 42 USC 300aa14 (NCVIA) and the lawsuit Mazer v. the District of Columbia in 2022 upheld that the law passed in Washington DC allowing for minors to consent for vaccination violated Federal law. This opinion was upheld and the cities law allowing for minor consent was repealed.

Morgan Newman

As a cervical cancer survivor and patient advocate, I, Morgan Newman, strongly oppose H.F. 104. This bill seeks to limit the ability of minors to consent to vaccinations for sexually transmitted diseases or infections, while still allowing them to consent to other forms of medical care for these conditions.I was someone who denied the HPV vaccine at the age of 16 after my own mother begged for me to get it. The vaccine did not have the wealth of data that we have now even showing that it is preventing new diagnoses from occurring. I never thought this cancer would happen to me, however, eight years later, at the age of 24, I was diagnosed with stage IIIB cervical cancer. Nearly a year after my initial diagnosis, I had a recurrence to my lungs giving me a 79% chance of ever being cancerfree. I have lost my fertility, I have experienced great financial impact due to being a young adult, and I have lifelong side effects from the treatment that I will never be able to get rid of from a nearly entirely preventable cancer. And I am not the only one.Concerns with the BillDelayed Protection: The bill's restriction on minor consent for cancerpreventing vaccinations may delay or prevent young people from receiving timely protection against HPVrelated cancers. This is particularly concerning, as HPV can lay dormant for 1520 years before developing into cancer, often striking during young adulthood when individuals are building their families, establishing careers, and contributing to their communities.Increased Cancer Risk: By limiting access to vaccinations, this bill may increase the risk of cancer among young adults and others. HPVrelated cancers, such as cervical, anal, vaginal, vulvar, penile, and oropharyngeal cancers, can have devastating consequences, including infertility, disfigurement, lifelong side effects, and even death.Patient Autonomy: As a patient advocate and social worker, I believe that individuals, including minors, should have the autonomy to make informed decisions about their own healthcare. This bill undermines that autonomy and may lead to delays or foregone care, ultimately putting young people's health and wellbeing at risk.Longterm Consequences: The bill's approach may have longterm consequences, as it may lead to increased rates of cancer, related healthcare costs, and lost productivity among young adults. Iowa is already the secondleading state in cancer rates. This will catapult us into first place.Inefficient Allocation of Resources: By limiting access to vaccinations, lawmakers would be inefficiently allocating resources, as they would be prioritizing shortterm gains over longterm benefits. The costs of treating HPVrelated cancers would far outweigh the costs of providing vaccinations, making this bill a fiscally irresponsible decision.Financial Burden on Taxpayers: The longterm consequences of this bill could result in a significant financial burden on taxpayers, as they would be shouldering the costs of treating preventable cancers. This would not only affect individuals and families but also impact the overall economy, as healthcare costs continue to rise.Neglect of Fiscal Responsibility Principles: The bill's approach neglects key principles of fiscal responsibility, including prudent debt management, longterm financial planning, and efficient allocation of resources. By ignoring these principles, lawmakers would be putting the financial health and wellbeing of their constituents at risk.ConclusionInstead of limiting minor consent for cancerpreventing vaccinations, lawmakers should focus on promoting education, awareness, and access to care, as well as supporting informed decisionmaking about healthcare. This would be a more fiscally responsible approach. I urge lawmakers to reject H.F. 104 and instead work towards creating policies that prioritize the health and wellbeing of both young and older people, reduce the risk of cancer, and protect the health and productivity of future generations.

Carrie Wright

Making a decision about whether to get a vaccine or not is a serious matter and should not be allowed to be made by a minor without parental consent. I am in favor of this bill. Getting a vaccine is not a risk free decision and a child should not make this decision without their parent.

Robert Fonder

Parents should and MUST be respected in Iowa. That state does not own our children! This decision for this must be placed in the parents hands and not of a child who is still a minor yet.

Rebekah Jacobs

Anyone who is having sex should be able to take preventative measures against Sexually Transmitted Diseases and Infections. This includes minors. A parent's personal ideologies should not override a minors ability to make decisions about their own health and safety especially when it can prevent a horrific cancer.

Will Doherty

A parent must be informed and their consent is needed. Please respect the rights of parents to raise their minor children. The complete life of the minor has to be taken into consideration when making these types of decisions. Parents are in the best position to know what is best as they have been a part of their lives from the beginning. Again please respect the rights of parents and trust that they know what is best for

Oliver Bardwell

I strongly support House File 104 because it upholds parental rights and ensures that critical medical decisionssuch as administering vaccinations for sexually transmitted diseasesremain in the hands of parents and guardians. While minors should have access to necessary medical care, vaccinations carry longterm health implications that require informed consent from those legally and morally responsible for a child's wellbeing.This bill reinforces the fundamental role of parents in guiding their children's healthcare decisions while still allowing minors to seek treatment for STDs if necessary. I urge lawmakers to pass HF 104 to protect both parental rights and responsible medical decisionmaking.Thank you.

Teri Kaczinski

Call to Action HF104 Removing ability for minors to consent to childhood vaccines for STDs. Subcommittee date: 1/30 8:30 AM in the House LoungeTo make a public comment in support: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/committees/meetingPublicComment?meetingID=39346&action=viewCommitteePublicCommentsEmail the subcommittee members to show support:Eddie.andrewslegis.iowa.govDan.gehlbachlegis.iowa.govHeather.matsonlegis.iowa.govTo watch the subcommittee Tell your Under NCVIA, parents are required to be given the Vaccine Information Statement. Current state law is encouraging minors to consent for these vaccines without any lawful informed consent and allowing healthcare providers to use coercion. Parents have the ultimate authority in deciding what medical preventions for STD's and especially vaccinations are beneficial to their children. The current law 139a.35 is in violation of Federal law 42 USC 300aa14 (NCVIA) and the lawsuit Mazer v. the District of Columbia in 2022 upheld that the law passed in Washington DC allowing for minors to consent for vaccination violated Federal law. This opinion was upheld and the cities law allowing for minor consent was repealed. Children have received the HPV vaccination without their parents having any knowledge or having given consent.Minors receiving these without parental knowledge could lead to catastrophic consequences if an adverse event occurs.

Tracie Kennedy

Proud mother of 5 here to say I'm in favor of this bill. It's the right and responsibility of a parents to make informed medical decisions for their children, who aren't yet capable of understanding long term affects of such actions. Thank you.

Timothy Kosmacek

Parental concent should be required for all minor children.

Holly Reid

I support House File 104. Parents have the authority over medical decisions for their children, especially when it comes to prevention and vaccinations. My children are not researching vaccines and making well informed decisions about something that could impact their fertility for the rest of their lives. The HPV vaccine is known for being linked to heartbreaking infertility. Parents are our childrens advocates to consider all the risks and benefits to any vaccine.

Emily Hoffman

Please oppose this bill to ensure everyone in our state, regardless of age, has access to cancer prevention. While parents should be involved in their children's medical care, not all are. And minors are smarter than we give them credit for. So, we need to allow minors the ability to decide to recieve a vaccine that prevents cancer. I was diagnosed with HPVrelated cervical cancer at age 30. If I had recieved the HPV vaccine at a younger age, I wouldn't have gotten cancer, or gone through chemo and radiation, or lost my fertility to treatment, or recieved damage to my digestive tract from my radiation treatment that caused the loss of my ability to eat solid food for the rest of my life, which means I'm now connected to a pump 12 hours a day to recieve IV nutrition. Becoming cancer free came at a huge cost for me. I don't want another Iowan to experience what I've gone through. And they really shouldn't have to because the HPV vaccine can prevent six different types of cancer. We could even see our state cancer numbers decrease if we increased our HPV vaccination rates. It's already been proven in several other countries. Please keep cancer preventable in Iowa by allowing minor consent.

Rafaela Cadena [America’s front line doctors]

Sharing one of many stories from a heartbroken parent below7 heartbreaking years ago my perfectly healthy son became a ventilator dependent quadriplegic due to the vaccine Gardasil. Whether you call the condition TM or AFM they are both terms for polio renamed. Colton fought so hard to get better. He was so strong and pushed himself trying to achieve a normal body that he once had never to achieve it in this lifetime.Gardasil took his happy life from him. Gardasil took everything away from him that you take for granted like breathing, being able to walk, scratching your own itch, hugging someone, dressing yourself. Gardasil took my son from me. MERCK knows these risks exist. THE GOVERNMENT knows these risks exist Doctors know these risks exist yet they still administer vaccines because of money! They aren't administering vaccines for your health and safety it's all about money! There's no true safety studies on vaccines CDC destroys the info showing bad side effects from vaccines. Please do your research..I did mine too late. My son is gone! I miss him like crazy. You can protect your kids don't be a fool... don't trust a doctor that makes money pushing vaccines. READ A TRUE VACCINE INSERTDARE YOUR DOCTOR TO READ THE VACCINE INSERT. WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS= neurotoxins!The HPV Vaccine On Trial: Seeking Justice for a Generation Betrayed https://amazon.com/dp/1510710809/ref=cmswrcpapa6OJSBbBD574K6(Coltons story in this book! )Update: read this link to understand polio and how it's renamed! https://jchristoff.com/18thingsyoudontknowaboutpolio2/His story highlighted in Vaxxed 2 the people's truth on Peeps tv through Roku!I miss you son

Jessica Duffy

I am a constituent of Iowa Senate District 21 and Iowa House District 42 and I am in strong opposition of this bill. I am a medical student and a mom of two boys ages 15 and 9. Existing legislation promotes a commonsense public health measure that aligns with medical and legal frameworks, protects vulnerable youth, and reduces longterm healthcare costs. Vaccines for the prevention of sexually transmitted infections include the HPV and Hepatitis B vaccines. These vaccines have been proven safe and efficacious at preventing lifethreatening diseases such as cervical, throat, and liver cancers. Delaying access to these vaccines by allowing misinformed parents decisions to override the health concerns of empowered teens could significantly increase health risks. Not only does expanding vaccination access benefit the individual vaccinated, but also the health of the broader community. In addition, the CDC and the WHO strongly support adolescent vaccination due to its role in longterm disease prevention.In most states, minors have the legal right to consent to confidential STI treatment, contraceptives, and prenatal care. Preventative vaccines logically fall under the same category. The current legislature provides protection for vulnerable youth by ensuring that minors who lack parent support due to neglect, abuse, or misinformation about vaccines are not denied preventive care. In addition, our LGBTQ+ and atrisk youth populations may face additional stigma or barriers at home, making independent medical consent a crucial protection. While parental rights are important, they should not override a minors right to protect themselves from a preventable disease. Finally, the current legislation promotes fiscal responsibility and reduction of healthcare costs as treating HPVrelated cancers and Hepatitis B complications is significantly more costly than prevention. In conclusion, the current legislation does not seek to undermine parental rights. It is about safeguarding public health measures, reducing disease burdens, and protecting vulnerable youth by ensuring them access to preventive healthcare. As elected officials, I urge you to bear in mind that your duty is to your constituents and the citizens of Iowa and not to your political party. Please stand on the side of science, fiscal responsibility, and public health by opposing the proposed bill.