What's happening
This bill allows minors aged fourteen and older to consent to vaccines if they have the capacity to understand and provide informed consent.
Why it matters
Empowers adolescents aged 14+ with autonomy over their health decisions. By allowing minors to consent to vaccines if they understand the risks and benefits, the bill shifts some medical decision-making power from parents/guardians directly to capable teens.
Requires thorough assessment and counseling by healthcare providers. Providers must ensure that minors are fully informed and able to comprehend the consequences of vaccination, which promotes safe, responsible consent rather than automatic approval.
Defines clear standards for eligibility and safeguards. The bill precisely outlines what constitutes “capacity to consent” and which practitioners and vaccines are included, aiming to prevent misuse and ensure only appropriate cases are covered.
May help increase vaccine uptake among teens. In situations where parental consent is a barrier (e.g., for routine or recommended vaccines), this bill could help more adolescents access vaccinations, with potential public health benefits.
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Who cares
Minors age 14 and older
The bill would allow them to consent to vaccination themselves if they can understand and appreciate its nature and consequences and provide informed consent.
Health care practitioners
Practitioners administering vaccines under the bill would have to counsel minors, assess their capacity and informed consent, and ensure the vaccine is not contraindicated by their medical history.
Parents and guardians
The bill would allow eligible minors to authorize their own vaccinations without requiring parental or guardian consent.
Headline styles
Let Teens Consent to Vaccines
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to health
- Referred to health
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
1570
2025-2026 Regular Sessions
IN SENATE
January 10, 2025
Introduced by Sens. KRUEGER, HOYLMAN-SIGAL, MYRIE, SEPULVEDA, STAVISKY -- read twice and ordered printed, and when printed to be committed to the Committee on Health
AN ACT to amend the public health law, in relation to the administration of vaccines to children who are at least fourteen years of age
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2167-a to read as follows:
§ 2167-a. Administering a vaccine to a minor; consent. 1. A health care practitioner may administer a vaccine to a minor who is at least fourteen years of age if the minor has the capacity to consent and provides informed consent to the administering of the vaccine.
2. Prior to administering any vaccine under this section, the health care practitioner shall consult with and counsel the minor to ensure that the minor fully understands and appreciates the nature and consequences of receiving the vaccine, has the capacity to consent and is providing informed consent, and that the vaccine indicated for the minor is not contraindicated by the minor's medical history.
3. For the purposes of this section:
a. "Health care practitioner" means a health care practitioner licensed, certified or otherwise authorized to practice under title eight of the education law, acting within the practitioner's lawful scope of practice.
b. "Vaccine" means a biological product intended to confer immunization to an infection or disease which meets the standards approved by the United States public health service for such biological products, and is consistent with a recommendation of the advisory committee on immunization practices of the centers for disease control and prevention with respect to the patient involved, or which is approved by the
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD03768-01-5
department under such conditions as may be specified by the public health council.
c. "Capacity to consent" means an individual's ability, determined without regard to the individual's age, to understand and appreciate the nature and consequences of the proposed vaccination, and to make an informed decision concerning the administration of the vaccine.
§ 2. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Sponsor's memo
Title of bill
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to the administration of vaccines to children who are at least fourteen years of age
Purpose or general idea of bill
To allow minors who are at least fourteen years of age to have certain vaccinations administered to him or herself.
Summary of provisions
Section 1: Amends the public health law by adding a new section 2167-a. The new section authorizes health care practitioners to administer vaccinations to minors who are at least fourteen years of age without their parent's knowledge or consent. These vaccinations must meet the standards approved by the United States Public Health Service, and be consistent with recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immuniza- tion Practices (ACIP) of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the New York State Department of Health under such conditions as may be specified by the Public Health Council. Minors must have the capacity to consent, and provide informed consent. "Health care practitioner," "vaccine," and "capacity to consent" are defined.
Justification
In January of 2019, the World Health Organization (WHO) listed the anti- vaccination movement to be one of the top ten threats to global health. In the 2019, there was an unprecedented 650 reported cases of measles in New York State. According to WHO, trends around the country and globally have also seen a recent spike in measles diagnoses. While measles has a relatively low fatality rate, those with leukemia and other immunocom- promised individuals are at particular risk. The outbreak of measles illustrates the risk a decline in herd immunity presents for an outbreak of even more serious diseases.
Students bound for high school or higher education may be limited in their educational opportunities should their parents or guardians refuse vaccination. In a 2019 case in Orchard Park, New York, two students were prevented from attending public schools because of their parents refused to update their immunizations. Moreover, since most colleges and univer- sities in New York require a panel of immunizations, students that enroll in college prior to their eighteenth birthday may be unable to receive required vaccinations without parental consent.
Minors are permitted to receive vaccinations without parental consent in six states and Washington, D.C. These states utilize the 'mature minor doctrine,' permitting minors the ability to make certain choices regard- ing their bodily autonomy and health providing they have the capacity to give informed consent.
Prior legislative history
2023-24 - S.6103/ - Referred to Health
2021-22 - S.3041/A.3192 Fahy -Referred to Health 2019-20 -S.4244C/A.6564C Fahy- Referred to Health
Fiscal implications for state and local governments
None
Effective date
This act shall take effect immediately
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.