02-19-2015, 09:27 AM
(02-19-2015, 07:34 AM)Duchess Wrote: My girlfriend was telling me that in order for her kids to start school they all had to have up to date shot records. Why are the unvaccinated kids being allowed into the school system?
All 50 states in the US require school kids to be vaccinated. BUT, there are exemptions that legally allow parents to be waived of the requirement on three different grounds.
1. Medical exemption -- all 50 states allow parents to send their kid to school without being vaccinated if the child has a condition that could be worsened by the vaccination. Of course, it's understandable that a child not get certain vaccinations in that case. What's not understandable to me is that only now are states looking at making it a requirement that parents claiming medical exemptions provide a doctor's verification.
2. Religious exemption -- all 50 states except Mississippi and West Virginia allow parents to send their kids to school without being vaccinated if vaccinations contradict their sincere religious beliefs.
3. Philosophical exemption -- 20 states allow parents to send their kids to school without being vaccinated if vaccinations simply rub them the wrong way. So really, vaccinations aren't a requirement at all in those states (in my opinion).
This site has a good summary of state-by-state vaccination requirements: http://www.ncsl.org/research/health/scho...-laws.aspx