mama bears project
U.S. states require children to receive certain vaccines before attending school, typically adopting the CDC’s childhood vaccine schedule (which has risen from 5 doses by age 18 in 1962 to as many as 96+ doses today). However, all states allow medical exemptions, and most states also provide exemptions for families who decline immunization for non-medical reasons.
These exemptions typically fall into two categories:
• Religious, for families whose faith opposes vaccination
• Philosophical or personal belief exemptions, for those who object based on moral or other personal grounds
The availability and requirements for these exemptions vary by state, with some enforcing stricter rules, such as educational counseling or notarized documentation, while others offer more flexibility.
Currently, five states – New York, Maine, Connecticut, West Virginia, and California – do not allow for either religious or philosophical exemptions. While these states do provide medical exemptions, proving the need for these can be daunting and doctors who provide them often face retribution from government officials and state medical boards.
https://www.ncsl.org/health/state-non-medical-exemptions-from-school-immunization-requirements
https://www.vaccinesafety.edu/vaccine-exemptions/
https://www.nvic.org/resources/frequently-asked-questions/vaccine-exemptions
https://www.nvic.org/law-policy-state
For assistance in applying for a religious exemption, the Pacific Justice Institute provide these instructions
https://mcusercontent.com/7ae92b22d7cde57869dcb871a/files/570ab475-982c-d6fd-18ff-aeb1535da4ee/Religious_Accommodation_for_Employees_08_25_21.02.pdf about the process.
If your application has been denied, the Institute also provides these instructions https://mcusercontent.com/7ae92b22d7cde57869dcb871a/files/02ffa966-c7f4-f682-70c4-b2a914fd59e8/Religious_Exemption_Denial_Steps_revised_12_06_21.pdf about what to do next, along with links to the relevant employment discrimination agencies in every state
Thanks to Childrens Health Defense for the above information.
https://childrenshealthdefense.org

