HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.C.R. NO.	41
THIRTY-FIRST LEGISLATURE, 2022
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE CONCURRENT

RESOLUTION

requesting the department of health to conduct a study into the feasibility of permitting minors sixteen years of age or older to consent to RECEIVe a covid-19 vaccination without consent from the minor's parent or guardian.

WHEREAS, vaccinating minors against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is vital to protecting their health and promoting their ability to safely receive an in-person education; and

WHEREAS, on August 23, 2021, the United States Food and Drug Administration granted full approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine to be administered to individuals sixteen years of age or older; and

WHEREAS, as of October 18, 2021, approximately 4,050,475 minors in the United States who are sixteen years of age or older have been fully vaccinated; and

WHEREAS, however, in Hawaii, only approximately 13,707 Hawaii residents in that age group have been vaccinated; and

WHEREAS, San Francisco permits minors age twelve years or older to consent to receive the COVID-19 vaccine; and

WHEREAS, Arizona permits minors age eleven years or older to consent to receive the COVID-19 vaccine; and

WHEREAS, in five other states, minors ranging from at least fourteen to sixteen years of age are authorized to consent to a COVID-19 vaccination; and

WHEREAS, at least four other states follow the mature minor doctrine, which permits minors to consent to receive health services if they are deemed mature enough to do so; and

WHEREAS, permitting minors sixteen years of age or older to consent to receive a COVID-19 vaccination would increase statewide vaccination rates to a critical subgroup of the population and offer broader community-wide protection; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-first Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2022, the Senate concurring, that the Department of Health is requested to conduct a study into the feasibility of permitting minors sixteen years of age or older to receive a COVID-19 vaccination without consent from the minor's parent or guardian; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Department of Health is requested to submit a report of its findings and recommendations, including any proposed legislation, to the Legislature no later than twenty days prior to the convening of the Regular Session of 2023; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a certified copy of this Concurrent Resolution be transmitted to the Director of Health.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Minors; COVID-19 Vaccine; Consent; Study; Department of Health