Policy: Vaccines should be subject to exemption due to religious/ medical purpose.
Claim I: The existing law on vaccine exemption is already solving the problems identified, the
problems are not severe.
1. Vaccine requirements and people’s legal right to be exempt from vaccines is based each
state’s exemption laws and are often worded differently from state to state. All states allow for
some of the three types of exemption – medical, religious belief and personal/conscientious
belief. In some states there is also the possibility of exemption based on proof of immunity to a
disease.
2. All 50 states allow medical exemption to vaccination. In most states, a medical exemption
must be written by a medical doctor (M.D.) or doctor of osteopathy (D.O.). Some states also
allow other state-designated health care workers to certify that the administration of one or
more state mandated vaccines would be detrimental to the health of an individual.
a. On one California’s medical exemption form states: A medical exemption may be utilized:
a) When vaccine(s) is medically contraindicated.
b) When vaccine(s) is or may be detrimental to health.
b. Some state laws allow individuals to be exempted from vaccination if proof of existing
immunity for certain diseases can be shown.
3. As of 2016, all U.S. states allow a religious exemption to vaccination except California,
Mississippi and West Virginia. Prior to registering your child for school, you should check your
state law to verify what proof is needed if you intend to file an exemption for sincerely held
religious or spiritual beliefs.
a. The religious exemption is intended for people who hold a sincere religious belief
opposing vaccination to the extent that if the state forced vaccination, it would be an
infringement on their constitutional right to exercise their religious beliefs. A state must
have a "compelling State interest" before this right can be taken away.
Claim II: The policy can be difficult to implement depending on the nature of religious beliefs.
1. The current policy on exemption of religious purpose is vague: If a person exercise his or her
right to religious exemption to vaccination, he or she must be prepared to defend it, and explain
their religious or spiritual beliefs in their own words.
2. Constitutionally, Americans have an expectation that their religious beliefs will be respected
and that government will not pass laws that obstruct the exercise of this most fundamental of
freedoms, but the vaccination laws varies from state to state.
3. For religious exemption, parent’s decision upon religious belief might not be the same choice
as the child being vaccinated, which can later on become the problem of personal belief as well.
Claim III: The importance of taking vaccination is greater than the potential risks it might cause.
1. Vaccines are among the safest medical products available and can prevent the suffering and
costs associated with infectious diseases. The potential risks associated with the diseases that
vaccines prevent are much greater than the potential risks from the vaccines themselves.
2. In 2012, the World Health Organization estimated that vaccination prevents 2.5 million
deaths each year. With 100% immunization, and 100% efficacy of the vaccines, one out of seven
deaths among young children could be prevented, mostly in developing countries, making this
an important global health issue.
a.In the United States, among children born during 1994–2013, vaccination will prevent
an estimated 322 million illnesses, 21 million hospitalizations, and 732,000 deaths during
their lifetimes
3. The World Health Organization lists 25 diseases for which vaccines are available, for example
including Measles, Rubella, Influenza, Poliomyelitis, and HPV.
Claim IV: Vaccination does not only affect oneself but also others, which their personal rights
should be respected as well.
1. Vaccinated mothers protect their unborn children from viruses that could potentially cause
birth defects, and vaccinated communities can help eradicate diseases for future generations.
a.Before the rubella vaccine was licensed in 1969, a global rubella outbreak caused the
deaths of 11,000 babies, and birth defects in 20,000 babies.
b.For religious exemption, parent’s decision upon religious belief might not be the same
choice as the child being vaccinated.
2.Limiting the spread of serious communicable diseases has been defined as a "compelling State
interest" in court cases to mandate smallpox vaccine
Claim V: Vaccines provide economic benefits for society.
1. The CDC estimates that children vaccinated between 1994 and 2014 have yielded net savings
of $1.38 trillion in "societal costs," including money saved by preventing lost productivity due to
disability and early death. The United States saves about $27 per $1 invested in DTaP
vaccination, and $13 per $1 spent on MMR vaccination.
2. UNICEF estimates that $6.2 billion could be saved in treatment costs if vaccines were more
prominent in the world’s poorest countries.
a. According to the International Vaccines Access Center at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg
School of Public Health, $62.9 billion could be saved by providing Hib, pneumococcal,
and rotavirus vaccinations to the 73 poorest countries
b. A vaccine is a biological preparation that provides active acquired immunity to a
particular disease. A parent or guardian must submit a written statement from a licensed
physician (M.D. or D.O.) which states: That the physical condition or medical
circumstances of the child are such that the required immunization(s) is not indicated.
b. Which vaccines are being exempted.
c. Whether the medical exemption is permanent or temporary.
d. The expiration date, if the exemption is temporary.
No distinction is made between exemptions based on religious beliefs and other personal
beliefs. Starting in 2016, exemptions for religious or other personal beliefs will no longer be an
option for the vaccines that are currently required for entry into school or child care in
California