The Alabama Department of Public Health has now limited the availability of COVID-19 vaccine to teens in some school clinics after legislators complained about that age group getting COVID shots without parental permission.

According to experts the new policy isn’t likely to violate state law which does permit children older than 14 to consent to routine medical treatment, however experts and physicians alike state that it could severely limit where teenagers can get vaccinated, and in turn, slow Alabama’s efforts to stem the pandemic.  Assistant State Health Officer Dr. Karen Landers, stressed that the reported concerns came from legislators, and not directly from parents, and a  bill has already been pre-filed by Representative Chip Brown, of Mobile, which would require parental consent for COVID-vaccines.

The policy applies only to Alabama Department of Public Health clinics and outside clinics, such as some school vaccination sites, where ADPH employees administer the COVID-19 vaccine to children.   It does NOT apply to private physicians or any other entities.

(AL.COM/www.al.com)