CONSENT FOR ADOLESCENT VACCINATION - ISSUES AND CURRENT PRACTICES

To identify and describe implementation of slate-level informed consen t requirements for adolescent immunizations, current stare regulations on informed consent and immunization services for children and adoles cents were identified through the LEXIS-NEXIS(R) legal data base. Regu lations were coded for informed consent characteristics, consent exemp tions, and current immunization requirements. Stare immunization progr am directors, project managers, and state hepatitis coordinators were surveyed to catalogue how regulations were implemented and document ne w policies or regulations under consideration. Parental consent for im munizations is standard practice in 43 states. Most states (n=34) requ ire separate consent for each injection when more than one injection i s required to complete a vaccination, but only for a limited number of medical procedures. Nine states allow adolescents to self-consent for hepatitis B vaccination in sexually transmitted disease clinics and f amily planning clinics as part of the exemption for miners' receipt of sexual health services. Most states require consent for vaccination s ervices provided to adolescents. Parental consent requirements are a p otential barrier to vaccinating adolescents in some settings.