Year: 2019
Resolution Number: 21
Action Taken: Approved as Amended
Status:
Author(s): Mara Bezerko, Emma Frost, Jennifer Jess, Ajay Kolli, Jordan Lippincott, Lauren McGee, Alana Slavin, and Sara Teising
Sponsor: Emma Frost
On behalf of: Medical Student Section
Committee: D (Public Health)
Resolved Section(s):
RESOLVED: That MSMS advocate for legislation that would provide for the right of minors to consent to vaccination when independently sought out by the minor in the absence of parental consent, within the bounds of professional guidelines; and be it further RESOLVED: That the Michigan Delegation to the American Medical Association (AMA) ask our AMA to amend the policy H-440.830, “Education and Public Awareness on Vaccine Safety and Efficacy,” by addition as follows:1. Our AMA (a) encourages the development and dissemination of evidence-based public awareness campaigns aimed at increasing vaccination rates; (b) encourages the development of educational materials that can be distributed to patients and their families clearly articulating the benefits of immunizations and highlighting the exemplary safety record of vaccines; (c) supports the development and evaluation, in collaboration with health care providers, of evidence-based educational resources to assist parents in educating and encouraging other parents who may be reluctant to vaccinate their children; (d) encourages physicians and state and local medical associations to work with public health officials to inform those who object to immunizations about the benefits of vaccinations and the risks to their own health and that of the general public if they refuse to accept them; (e) will promote the safety and efficacy of vaccines while rejecting claims that have no foundation in science; and (f) supports state policies allowing adolescents to provide their own consent for vaccination and encourages state legislatures to establish comprehensive vaccine and minor consent policies; and, (g) will continue its ongoing efforts with other immunization advocacy organizations to assist physicians and other health care professionals in effectively communicating to patients, parents, policy makers, and the media that vaccines do not cause autism and that decreasing immunization rates have resulted in a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases and deaths.
RESOLVED: That MSMS advocate for legislation that would provide for the right of minors to consent to vaccination when independently sought out by the minor in the absence of parental consent, within the bounds of professional guidelines; and be it further RESOLVED: That the Michigan Delegation to the American Medical Association (AMA) ask our AMA to amend the policy H-440.830, “Education and Public Awareness on Vaccine Safety and Efficacy,” by addition as follows:1. Our AMA (a) encourages the development and dissemination of evidence-based public awareness campaigns aimed at increasing vaccination rates; (b) encourages the development of educational materials that can be distributed to patients and their families clearly articulating the benefits of immunizations and highlighting the exemplary safety record of vaccines; (c) supports the development and evaluation, in collaboration with health care providers, of evidence-based educational resources to assist parents in educating and encouraging other parents who may be reluctant to vaccinate their children; (d) encourages physicians and state and local medical associations to work with public health officials to inform those who object to immunizations about the benefits of vaccinations and the risks to their own health and that of the general public if they refuse to accept them; (e) will promote the safety and efficacy of vaccines while rejecting claims that have no foundation in science; and (f) supports state policies allowing adolescents to provide their own consent for vaccination and encourages state legislatures to establish comprehensive vaccine and minor consent policies; and, (g) will continue its ongoing efforts with other immunization advocacy organizations to assist physicians and other health care professionals in effectively communicating to patients, parents, policy makers, and the media that vaccines do not cause autism and that decreasing immunization rates have resulted in a resurgence of vaccine-preventable diseases and deaths.
Fiscal Note: $25,000 or more as this resolution directs MSMS to engage in governmental advocacy.
Resolution: View PDF for Mature Minor Consent to Vaccinations
For More Information, Contact:
Christin Nohner
, Director, State and Federal Government Relations
Government Relations
517-336-5737
cnohner@msms.org