Bill Overview
Title: Protecting Parental Rights Act
Description: This bill establishes a new federal criminal offense for administering a COVID-19 vaccine to a minor without the prior consent of a custodial parent or legal guardian of the minor. A violation is subject to a fine, a prison term of up to one year, or both.
Sponsors: Rep. Herrera Beutler, Jaime [R-WA-3]
Target Audience
Population: Minors receiving COVID-19 vaccines and their custodial parents/legal guardians worldwide
Estimated Size: 74000000
- The bill specifically targets minors who may receive vaccinations.
- It indirectly impacts parents or legal guardians responsible for giving consent.
- There is a potential impact on healthcare providers who administer vaccines to minors.
- The legislation could have broader implications for public health policy on parental rights in medical decisions.
Reasoning
- The policy directly impacts minors and their parents or guardians by ensuring consent before vaccination, which aligns with parental rights. However, the policy may face backlash from parents who support widespread vaccination for public health benefits.
- Healthcare providers will need to adapt to ensure compliance, which could include additional administrative processes, potentially affecting workflow efficiency.
- The policy's focus on parental consent could reinforce existing vaccine hesitancy if perceived as an endorsement of parental discretion over medical advice.
- Budget constraints imply a need to prioritize awareness campaigns and compliance mechanisms within financial limits, focusing on areas with lower vaccination rates or contentious parental debates.
- Cultural and regional differences in vaccine perceptions across the U.S. could result in varied impact intensity, from high in regions with low trust in medical decisions made by the state to low in communities supportive of public health measures.
Simulated Interviews
Teacher (Texas)
Age: 45 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I believe parental consent is crucial. This policy reinforces our rights as parents.
- I am worried about how this might slow down our local vaccination efforts, especially with misinformation out there.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Healthcare Worker (California)
Age: 34 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This adds an extra layer of work for us, but I support parental rights.
- We already ensure consent, so the policy formalizes what's in practice.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Public Health Official (New York)
Age: 50 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 8/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy could introduce new challenges in our efforts to achieve herd immunity.
- It might empower those resistant to vaccinations for their children.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 3 | 3 |
Small Business Owner (Florida)
Age: 40 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a win for parental rights against government overreach.
- Encourages more parents to engage in their children's health decisions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Stay-at-home Parent (Illinois)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I fear this policy might deter some parents from vaccinating, compromising health.
- Parental rights are important, but so is public health safety.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 2 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 1 | 3 |
Software Engineer (Washington)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The legislation restricts public health efforts and might increase misinformation.
- Parental consent is key, but it should not hinder vaccination campaigns.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 4 | 4 |
Nurse (Kentucky)
Age: 38 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy may lead to fewer teens getting vaccinated due to parents' hesitancy.
- Balancing consent and public health is always challenging.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 2 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 2 | 3 |
College Student (Massachusetts)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 6/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Protecting parental rights is essential, but education on vaccine safety is necessary.
- I hope this doesn't delay necessary vaccinations.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Retired (Ohio)
Age: 63 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 8
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Parents should always have the final say.
- This policy aligns with ensuring family decisions are respected.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 8 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 5 |
Journalist (Pennsylvania)
Age: 44 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy might embolden anti-vaccine rhetoric more than protect.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 3 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 3 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 2 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $15000000 (Low: $10000000, High: $20000000)
Year 2: $15000000 (Low: $9000000, High: $20000000)
Year 3: $14000000 (Low: $8000000, High: $19000000)
Year 5: $13000000 (Low: $7000000, High: $18000000)
Year 10: $10000000 (Low: $5000000, High: $15000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- Enforcement and verification processes for consent will be a new administrative burden.
- Public health implications due to possible changes in vaccination rates should be considered.
- Legal costs associated with the definition and prosecution of new offenses.