Vaccination exemptions allow parents to waive mandatory vaccinations for their children, with medical and religious exemptions being the most common. Some regions also offer personal belief exemptions. However, not vaccinating potentially endangers others and compromises have been made to grant exemptions if certain qualifications are met. Different types of exemptions require different requirements, such as a doctor’s signature or written affirmation of religious beliefs. Parents may need to file another exemption in the future when changing schools or districts.
A vaccination exemption offers the possibility of waiving the mandatory vaccinations. This is almost always required for a public school child, who may need to have up-to-date immunizations in order to enroll in school. Available waivers vary regionally, but the most common are asking a school to set aside the policy for medical reasons. Religious exemptions are also often granted, if a parent’s religion prohibits the use of vaccinations. Some regions have a personal belief, a conscientious or philosophical objection exemption, that parents can use if they do not want their child to be vaccinated due to deeply held personal beliefs.
From a legal point of view, requesting vaccinations violates the rights of parents who do not want them or should not get them for their children. Making enrollment, especially in a public school, conditional on a series of vaccines usurps parental supervisory rights. It can equally be argued, however, that not administering vaccinations potentially endangers other children. For example, medically frail people are much more susceptible to serious illness during outbreaks of common preventable diseases, such as measles or whooping cough. These outbreaks occur most often among unvaccinated children.
Understandably, there are very strong feelings on this issue on both sides. Some parents threaten not to send children to classes with unvaccinated children. Other families may refuse to consider any changes to their views on the policy of requiring vaccinations. The compromises have generally involved granting exemptions from parental vaccinations if they meet certain qualifications.
The most liberal vaccination exemptions are given for philosophical or personal reasons. The parent simply has to declare a personal opposition to vaccines. Additional requirements might include a doctor’s signature or notarization of forms. Not all regions allow exceptions of this type.
A medical vaccination exemption is the type most frequently offered. This is appropriate for a small percentage of children with compromised immune systems, a history of allergic reactions to an injection, or allergies to any component of a vaccine. Normally, a doctor’s signature is required. Most doctors will not sign this exemption request if the health issue is identified as a parental fear about a possible connection between autism and vaccinations.
Exemption from religious vaccination often simply requires a parent’s written affirmation that vaccinations violate religious beliefs. Such claims usually do not require proof of an affinity to a church. Parents should not request this exemption, however, if the belief is not religious in nature or cannot be traced back to a specific religious practice.
Depending on location and school system, parents may need to file another vaccination waiver in the future. This may be true when a child is moving to a new school district. Promoting your child from one school to another may also require submitting a new form. Researching local laws is the best way to determine what exemptions are available and how to apply for them.
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