The director of the D.C. Department of Health testified before the public health committee Friday in favor of vaccinating female teenagers against a sexually transmitted disease that can lead to cervical cancer.
Council Member David Catania, independent-at large, proposed legislation in January to vaccinate every female in the District under age 13 against the human papillomavirus infection. The bill also would provide the District with a reporting system for the virus and allow parents to opt out of the vaccination program if they choose to do so.
But health department Director Gregg Pane said he feared that with the virus’s prevalence, allowing parents to opt out of the vaccination might not be optimal for public health.
