Exemption letter for adults?

[NJ*Doula]

I'm transferring to a new college in the spring. My current school has asked me repeatedly for a vax form, and I've conveniently forgotten each time. They've never pressed. But I just checked the transfer requirements for my new school, and they are pretty serious about wanting specific info on specific vaccines. I had two MMR shots when I was a baby, so I'm set with that, but they want me to get Hep B. There's absolutely no way I'm getting it. I'm in NJ, so we only have religious exemption here, and according to the school's website, I have to state to specific religious doctrine that says I can't get a vaccine. I thought by law I didn't have to say specifically? I mean, I'm Pagan, so it's not like I can whip out the Pagan holy book and point them to the passage.

Does anyone have a sample letter I could use? Do I really have to state specifically? How the heck do I do that?

[Gitti]

The question should be how can they get away with trampling on your religious freedoms?
It's simple: it has not been challenged in a court of law. If it would be, there is no way this would hold up. Because they have no right to ask you to make some figure head of some "religion" responsible for your health. That is so insane it makes me angry!

Do we have religious freedom or don't we?

Maybe you can find something on this site -

http://www.vaclib.org/exempt/newjersey.htm

[Marnica]

I am not familiar with the Pagan beliefs or NJ specifically. Are you over 18??
They don't need to know what religion you are even if you need to write a religious statement....that website Gitti posted has some good sample letters. Good luck

[Emmeline II]

I have a letter. Change out the law and get it notarized. You may want to include a copy of the exemption law. If you get any flack or reaction I'd love to hear it.

http://www.nvic.org/state-site/NewJersey.htm
TITLE 18A. EDUCATION
SUBTITLE 8A. HIGHER EDUCATION;
PUBLIC AND NONPUBLIC INSTITUTIONS
CHAPTER 61D. RULES AND REGULATIONS
N.J. Stat. § 18A:61D-1 (2007)

18A:61D-1. Immunization record
1. Every public and independent institution of higher education in this State shall, as a condition of admission or continued enrollment, require every graduate and undergraduate student who is 30 years of age or less and is enrolled full-time or part-time in a program or course of study leading to an academic degree, to submit to the institution a valid immunization record which documents the administration of all required immunizations against vaccine-preventable disease, or evidence of immunity from these diseases, in accordance with regulations promulgated by the Department of Health. The institution shall keep the records on file in such form and manner as prescribed by the department.

N.J. Stat. § 18A:61D-3 (2007)
§ 18A:61D-3. Conflict with religious beliefs
A student who submits to the institution of higher education a written statement that immunization conflicts with his religious beliefs shall not be required to submit a list of immunizations to the institution as a condition of admission or continued enrollment.


N.J. Stat. § 18A:61D-10 (2007)
§ 18A:61D-10. Exemption from vaccination
A student shall not be required to receive a vaccination pursuant to section 2 or 3 of this act [C. 18A:61D-9 and 18A:40-21.1] based upon one of the following:

a. a written statement submitted to the secondary school or institution of higher education, as applicable, by a licensed physician indicating that the vaccine is medically contraindicated for a specific period of time and the reasons for the medical contraindication, based upon valid medical reasons as determined by regulation of the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services, which shall exempt the student from the vaccination for the stated period of time; or

b. a written statement submitted to the secondary school or institution of higher education, as applicable, by the student, or the student's parent or guardian if the student is a minor, explaining how the administration of the vaccine conflicts with the bona fide religious tenets or practices of the student, or the parent or guardian, as appropriate; except that a general philosophical or moral objection to the vaccination shall not be sufficient for an exemption on religious grounds.

Sample Religious Exemption Letter

Quote:
To whom it may concern;



(We / I) {First and Last name(s)}, as the {(parent (s) / guardian(s)} of ______________________(name of newborn child) are exercising (our/my) rights under the US Constitution, PUBLIC HEALTH LAW, ARTICLE 21. CONTROL OF ACUTE COMMUNICABLE DISEASES,TITLE VI. POLIOMYELITIS AND OTHER DISEASES, NY CLS Pub Health § 2164 (2002), to receive Religious Exemption from Vaccination, ALL injections, prophylaxis, & testing due to our genuine and sincere religious beliefs which are contrary to the practices herein required.

The U.S. Supreme Court held in Frazee V. Illinois Dept. of Security, 489 U.S. 829, that a religious belief is subject to protection even though no religious group espouses such beliefs or the fact that the religious group to which the individual professes to belong may not advocate or require such belief. This ruling is also reflected in Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 as amended Nov. 1, 1980; Part 1605.1-Guidelines on Discrimination Because of Religion.


Sincerely,

Your signature.
Date

[NJ*Doula]

Ok, this makes me look like a nutcase, but here's what I've come up with. Should I do any tweaking?

***

In accordance with NJ State Statute 26:1A-9.1 1974, and Section 8:57-4.4
N.J.A.C. 1995, I hereby certify that the administration of vaccinations, all injections, prophylaxis, & testing to myself, (my name), is contrary to my
religious beliefs, held either individually or jointly with others, and I
therefore request that I be exempted from the school immunization
requirements of NJ State Statute 26:1A-9 1974, and Section 8:57-4.1 N.J.A.C.
1995.

I believe in Gods, and that the Gods have created us in their image. In being
created in the Gods’ image, we are given their perfect immune system. We are bestowed with this gift, the immune system. I believe it is sacrilegious and a violation of my sacred religious beliefs to violate what the Gods have given us by showing a lack of faith in the Gods. Immunizations are a lack of faith in the Gods and their way, the immune system. I believe that receiving immunizations shows the Gods that I have no faith in their promises of protection for us, saying that I trust man more than their holy words of protection for us.

The PDR (Physicians Desk Reference) lists the following vaccine ingredients: Diphtheria toxoid, tetanus toxoid, acellular pertussis endotoxin, Hepatitis B virus gene in yeast protein, Haemophilus influenza antigen, neisseria meningitides, measles virus in chick embryo culture, mumps virus in chick embryo culture, rubella virus from human diploid lung cells, varicella virus also from aborted fetuses, streptococcus pneumoniae in soy peptone broth with yeast, hepatitis A virus from aborted human fetuses, Japanese encephalitis virus from ground up mouse brains, mycobacterium tuberculosis, polio virus from monkey kidney cells, embryonic guinea pig cell cultures, beef heart infusion, fetal bovine serum, human albumin, ammonium sulfate, sorbitol, sucrose, aluminum, formaldehyde, thimerosal, glutamate, phenol, phenoxyethanol, polysorbate 80 (Tween 80), glutaraldhyde, dry natural latex rubber and Neomycin.

I believe that a person’s spirit is contained in every cell of his or her body, and that transmission of body fluids or tissues from one living organism to another carries a part of the spirit with it. I believe that it is spiritually unsafe, and an abomination, to transmit part of the spirit of one being into the body of another in this manner.

I swear that all the foregoing statements are true to the best of my
information, knowledge and belief.


_________________________________________________

(my name)


____________________
Date



Subscribed and Sworn before me this ________ day of _____________________, 2008.



___________________________________________
ATTORNEY'S SIGNATURE

[cyberfish]

No, it does not make you look like a nutcase. Unless perhaps I am in denial about my own nutcakiness as a fellow nonvaxer...

I'd lose the part about vaccine ingredients; I see how you tie it into religious beliefs but technically you have to object to the practice of vaccination, not the ingredients themselves (that is a philosophical objection.) You've got to love how they tell you what you're allowed to believe for the purposes of deciding what to inject into your/your child's body. But I digress.

I personally would change the word "immunization" to "vaccination." Getting a vax doesn't necessarily confer immunity and by not using an immunity-related term they can't get you by saying that since you're admitting you haven't been "immunized" you are a threat to your college population.

Hep B? What do they think is going on in your classrooms?

[NJ*Doula]

Originally Posted by cyberfish

Hep B? What do they think is going on in your classrooms?

My thought, too. I went to one college that required tetanus. That I can at least sort of understand, because a student could contract tetanus from an injury on campus (hypothetically). But Jersey is Hep B crazy. Babies are required to get it in the hospital nursery. You know, so if some hot older toddler ends up spending the night, they won't catch anything.

[loveyourohana]

I would like to see the finished exemption you come up with... I thought you did a really good job... it is usefull knowing that the ingredients are considered philisophical though...

I dont see how they can claim those reasons as philisophical? Its against my religion, and philisophical beliefs, and neither one is more important than the other. They are strong beliefs either way, and forcing vaccination is still a human rights violation either way isn't it?