Balancing Parental Rights and Public Health: The Challenge of Childhood Vaccination in a Changing Landscape

Balancing Parental Rights and Public Health: The Challenge of Childhood Vaccination in a Changing Landscape
Commentary
Yang, Y. Tony, Sarah Schaffer
Journal of Public Health Management and Practice, January-February 2025; 31(1) pp 1-4
Abstract
The decline in childhood vaccination rates, exacerbated by the confluence of anti-vaccine sentiment and parental rights advocacy, presents a multifaceted challenge to public health.1 This issue impacts community health and safety, with U.S. measles cases in early 2024 already surpassing 2023 totals.2 Recent surveys show a marked decline in the perceived importance of childhood vaccinations, particularly among Republicans.3 National vaccination coverage for incoming kindergartners dropped from 95% in 2019-2020 to 93% in 2022-2023, with exemption rates increasing in 41 states.4 This trend, coupled with growing support for parental choice to skip vaccines among certain demographic groups,5 underscores the complexity of the current public health landscape. Reflecting this shift, a recent state legislative trend toward requiring explicit parental consent for childhood vaccinations represents a pivotal shift in the public health landscape (Table 1).6 These initiatives, which now often require written informed consent rather than the previously sufficient verbal or implied consent, aim to protect parental rights but can also create barriers that may delay or prevent the administration of vaccines to minors, particularly affecting vulnerable populations. For instance, children from low-income families or those in the foster care system may face significant challenges in obtaining written informed consent from their parents or guardians. This can lead to delays or missed opportunities for vaccination, potentially putting these children at a higher risk of contracting vaccine-preventable diseases and exacerbating existing health disparities.