Legal Exemptions to Vaccination

09-28-2009 • National Vaccine Information Center

Legal Exemptions to Vaccination Reprinted from National Vaccine Information Center. Medical, philosophical or personal belief exemptions are worded differently in each state. To use an exemption for your child, you must know specifically what the law says in your state. Philosophical Exemption: The following 18 states allow exemption to vaccination based on philosophical, personal or conscientiously held beliefs: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin.

In many of these states, individuals must object to all vaccines, not just a particular vaccine in order to use the philosophical or personal belief exemption. Many state legislators are being urged by federal health officials and medical organizations to revoke this exemption to vaccination. If you are objecting to vaccination based on philosophical or personal conviction, keep an eye on your state legislature as public health officials may seek to amend state laws to eliminate this exemption. Religious Exemption: All states allow a religious exemption to vaccination except Mississippi and West Virginia.

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http://www.nvic.org/Vaccine-Laws.aspx