Opting Out of Vaccines: A Guide
Each state has its own guidelines for obtaining legal exemption status. Here's what parents who are just beginning to explore the options need to know about the three types of exemption.
Philosophical Exemption: Opting out of vaccines based on philosophical, personal, or conscientiously held beliefs is legal in 18 states, but it is the least clearly defined of the legal loopholes—and the one in gravest danger of being eradicated. To attain this status in most states, parents must completely refrain from vaccinating; singling out one or two shots while bypassing the others is not permitted.
Religious Exemption: Parents can also decide to opt out of vaccination on religious grounds, but the degree of difficulty of obtaining this status (which is underpinned by the First Amendment) varies widely. Some states welcome a broad definition of the word "religious," while others require membership in specific churches that have written tenets opposing vaccination. Not only may parents be asked for a signed affidavit from a church official, but also an outbreak of a communicable disease could render the exemption invalid.
Medical Exemption: The right to avoid vaccination for medical reasons is recognized nationwide, but parents must obtain a statement signed by a medical doctor or doctor of osteopathy declaring that the administration of one or more vaccines would compromise the health of their child. However, if at any point a state health department determines it invalid, this exemption can be revoked.
Source: National Vaccine Information Center
Certain vaccinations are mandatory for public-school entry in almost every state. Here is a breakdown of states that have a mandate at some level of education or childcare.
- Diphtheria: All 50 states
- Hepatitis A: Only in AK, AZ, GA, NV, OK, TX, UT, WV, and WY
- Hepatitis B: All but AL, FL, KS, MN, MS, MT, NV, NJ, SD, UT, VT, IL, ME, and WV
- Measles: All 50 states
- Meningococcal: Only for AZ, GA, IN, KY, LA, MA, MI, NJ, NY, NC, ND, OK, PA, TN, TX, VT, and WA
- Mumps: All but IA, WV, and VT
- Pertussis: All 50 states
- Pneumococcal: CO, CT, FL, IL, IN, IA, LA, ME, MD, MI, MN, MS, NY, OK, PA, RI, SC, TX, VA, WV, and WY
- Polio: All 50 states
- Rubella: All 50 states
- Tetanus: All 50 states
- Varicella: All but AK, ID, KS, NV, MT, OH, SD, UT, VT, WV, and WY
Source: Centers for Disease Control
