Tomorrow morning, Tuesday, February 16th, at 9:00 a.m., HB 117 will be heard by the House Health Care Regulation Policy Committee. The bill, by Rep. Kevin Ambler (R- Tampa) addresses Childhood Vaccinations.
The bill would require that physicians provide parents with current federally-required Vaccine Information Statements while obtaining the parent's or guardian's written consent to be immunized.
Obtaining written consent is NOT a federal requirement.
What IS required is for the provider to educate the patient/parent about the vaccines and to record such provision of information in the medical record.
- The written consent requirement will create a barrier to becoming immunized if the parent or guardian is NOT the individual taking the child to the physician visit.
- The federal requirements are certainly sufficient.
- The State of Florida should NOT create barriers to receiving life-saving immunizations.
Your Florida Representative is a member of the House Health Care Regulation Policy Committee and can help stop this bill.
Please call Rep. Lake G. Ray III at (850) 488-4388 TODAY and voice your opposition to HB 117.
Thank you, in advance, for your advocacy today on behalf of your patients and family medicine.
Sincerely,
Tad Fisher
Executive Vice President
Florida Academy of Family Physicians
