Anti-Vaxxers' Kids Reportedly Considering Breaking Law To Get Vaccinated

With the measles outbreak spreading in parts of the United States with strong anti-vaccination movements, children of anti-vaxxers are looking out for their own health and seeking help online. Being minors, most teens are unable to decide on their own health needs without the consent of their parents. And for many of them who do not share their moms’ or dads’ stance against vaccination, the situation is especially difficult to live with.

One 15-year-old with the username Danny691261 took to Reddit to air his frustrations over not being able to be upfront about his vaccinations. In his forum post, he said that he had been trying, to no avail, to convince his mother that there is nothing wrong with getting vaccinated. He even went as far as asking if he could forge his parent’s signature, to which the other Reddit users replied that it is considered a crime that could land him three years in jail.

In this hometown of Minnesota, minors are not allowed to receive health care services without their guardians’ or parents’ go-ahead. His post received over 50 responses, with some reminding him that vaccines are expensive and trying to claim insurance could be problematic because his mother would definitely find out. In the end, Danny691261 said that he will have to wait until he becomes 18 years old before he can get himself vaccinated. It remains unclear what path he has really decided to take as of this writing.

A related article on Salon highlights the plight of a certain Laura C. from Colorado, who told readers on Reddit that her parents have not given her any vaccinations since she was 2 years old. She said her mother always claimed that she was “too special” to get shots because she has been diagnosed with autism. Laura C. reportedly had her first MMR shot and did not get anything after. Now, at 18, she said that she is planning to get all the necessary shots.

The law on minors getting vaccinations varies per state. In Washington, minors may get immunized without needing consent if they are assessed and classified as “mature minors”. Other states with the same guidelines include Alaska, Arkansas, Alabama, Idaho, Illinois, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Louisiana, Montana, Pennyslvania, South Carolina, Oregon, Nevada, West Virginia, Kansas and Tennessee.