Research conducted by the Royal Children’s Hospital, the University of Melbourne and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute has concluded that it is “ethically permissible” to vaccinate teenagers aged 12 and over who are requesting a COVID-19 vaccine, even if their parents do not provide consent. Traditionally, parental consent is needed for the vaccination of children, even those in high school. When this consent is withheld, vaccine providers are usually reluctant to vaccinate, fearing legal consequences or complaints against them. However, the federal and state government have developed practice frameworks that allow medical practitioners to treat mature minors without parental consent. Professor John Massie from the University of Melbourne stated that he and his colleagues interpreted that it is ethically permissible for vaccine providers to vaccinate a young person from 12 years of age requesting a vaccine. “This recommendation will have implications for other situations, including when unvaccinated young people from vaccine-hesitant …