Table I.

Existing laws authorizing minors to consent to vaccination^∗

Laws allowing minors with a certain status to consent to health care including vaccination
Status	Notes
Minors who have attained a specific age	For example, 14, 15, or 16 y
Emancipated minors	Usually requires court order of emancipation
“Mature” minors	Includes minors who meet statutory criteria of capacity to give consent
Minors living apart from parents	May include homeless or runaway youth
Minor parents	May authorize consent for self, for child, or both
Married minors	Married minors also considered emancipated

Laws allowing minors to consent to type of service encompassing vaccines
Service	Notes
Specific vaccine	For example, MN (hepatitis B)†, NY (HPV)‡
Prevention of sexually transmitted infections	Generally also allows consent for diagnosis and treatment
Prevention of reportable, infectious, contagious, or communicable disease	Generally also allows consent for diagnosis and treatment

^∗Laws vary from state to state. Each of the listed categories is represented in the laws of one or more states; none is found in the laws of every state.

^†Minnesota Statutes § 144.3441.

^‡NY Comp Codes R & Regs tit 10, § 23.4.