URGENT CALIFORNIA: Bill clarification still neeeded for the HPV bill as a “mandate without enforcement” is bad policy
AB659 must be amended to remove the school HPV vaccine requirement
Our Stand: At-A-Glance
- UPDATE: While AB 659 bill continues to improve it still has flaws which will cause unintended consequences. What remains in the bill is a statement state policy that all under 26 year olds are expected to get the HPV vaccine in order to enter 8th grade in California public or private schools and all public higher education establishments. Having said that, the author and co-authors state that AB 659 is a "Mandate without Enforcement."
- AVFCA still opposes the bill in its current form because the language stating that the HPV vaccine is "expected," is confusing and does not make it clear that it is not required for 8th grade or college/university entry. AVFCA is in communication with the Author and Senators and their staff to request further amendments to the bill so that either this entire section is removed or that the wording is three amendments are made:
- The wording is changed throughout that the HPV vaccine is "recommended" rather than "expected".
- There is a clear statement that the HPV vaccine is not required to enroll in public or private school or public higher education in California
- The notification only be sent to parents/guardians and NOT 6th graders
- AB 659, which originally required the HPV vaccine for California public and private school 8-12th graders, and then was amended to require it of all public higher education establishment enrollees in California, passed out of the Assembly Health Committee with a 10-1-3 vote.
- What remains in the bill is a statement state policy that all under 26 year olds are expected to get the HPV vaccine in order to enter 8th grade in California public or private schools and all public higher education establishments. While this is a "better bill" it still has flaws which will cause unintended consequences.
- AVFCA still opposes the bill in its current form because the language stating that the HPV vaccine is expected, is confusing and does not make it clear that it is not required for 8th grade or college/university entry. AVFCA is in communication with the author's office and assembly members to work towards further amending the bill so that eiter this entire section is removed or that the wording is changed and rather than being "expected," the HPV vaccine is recommended or encouraged.In the past few months, has been amended a lot requires 8-12th graders to get vaccinated against Human Papillomavirus (HPV), a sexually transmitted infection (STI), to attend public or private school, starting January 1 2024.
- Please write your Senator AND the Senate Health Committee to request Asm Aguiar-Curry remove the HPV vaccine expectation or change the language. If possible please personalize the body of the email so that policy makers hear your voice and story.