Rhode Island health officials said they will not change the requirement for middle school students to receive the HPV vaccine, despite concerns from parents and lawmakers, according to an AP article.
Here are six notes:
1. Children entering seventh grade must receive the vaccine, unless parents opt out due to religious or medical reasons.
2. Virginia and Washington D.C. also require the vaccine.
3. An opposing parental group, Rhode Islanders Against Mandated HPV Vaccinations, claim this requirement steals their option to choose their children's vaccinations.
4. State health officials said the vaccination is recommended by the CDC, and it protects against a cancer-causing virus.
5. Officials also stated that children will not be barred from schools if parents choose to not have their children vaccinated.
6. Some republication representatives plan to fight the vaccine mandate next year.