The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has opened an investigation into a Midwestern school accused of giving a federally funded vaccine to a child without parental consent, drawing federal scrutiny on parental‑consent laws in vaccination programs.
HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced the inquiry in a video statement, emphasizing that the department is taking decisive measures to uphold parental authority in medical decisions for minors.
Kennedy did not identify the school, state or type of vaccine involved.
In conjunction with the investigation, HHS issued a “Dear Colleague” letter to recipients of federal grants through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA).
The letter reinforced that schools, clinics, and other federally funded institutions must follow all applicable federal and state parental‑consent laws when administering vaccines.
Failure to comply could result in the withdrawal of federal funding.
Federally funded programs, including the Vaccines for Children initiative, have long required parental consent or legally recognized exemptions—such as medical or religious exemptions—before providing vaccines to minors.
Federal and state regulations aim to balance public health priorities with parents’ legal authority over children’s medical care.
Under the National Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986, vaccine providers must provide a Vaccine Information Statement (VIS) to a child’s parent or legal representative prior to administration.
This requirement applies even in school-based health programs.
Federal privacy regulations, including the HIPAA Privacy Rule, generally restrict the disclosure of minors’ immunization records to schools without parental consent.
Exceptions exist only where state law permits minor consent or mandates collection of records for enrollment purposes.
HHS has warned that violations of federal or state parental‑consent laws may trigger serious consequences, including civil penalties, oversight actions and the potential loss of federal funding.
The department’s compliance reviews are intended to ensure institutions adhere to parental‑consent requirements and address any violations promptly.
“A school administered a federally funded vaccine to a child without the parent’s consent and despite a legally recognized state exemption,” Kennedy said, according to Fox News. “When any institution—a school, a doctor’s office, a clinic—disregards a religious exemption, it doesn’t just break trust, it also breaks the law. We’re not going to tolerate it.”
As part of the investigation, HHS is reviewing major healthcare providers and systems to confirm parents have timely access to their children’s medical records.
Providers will receive letters reminding them of their legal obligation to share records with parents, with Kennedy underscoring “no delays, no secrets, no excuses.”
Parents who believe their rights—or their child’s rights—have been violated are encouraged to file complaints with the HHS Office for Civil Rights.
Additionally, the department is evaluating how states and school districts handle medical and religious exemptions under federally funded programs to ensure compliance with federal and state law.
This investigation highlights the federal government’s renewed focus on parental authority in medical decisions and enforces accountability for institutions receiving federal funds.
Kennedy emphasized that all entities participating in federally funded vaccination programs must comply with the law, protect parental rights and maintain transparent practices in administering vaccines to minors.
WATCH:
