PA public schools and vaccinations

[organicmom3]

Is it true that you HAVE to vaccinate to attend public school in Pennsylvania? Can't anyone it out??

[MyBoysBlue]

Exemption info for Pennsylvania

http://vaclib.org/exempt/pennsylvania.htm

[ma2two]

"Children need not be immunized if the parent, guardian, or emancipated child objects in writing to the immunization on religious grounds or on the basis of a strong moral or ethical conviction similar to a religious belief."

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/028/chapter23/s23.84.html

Read the law closely and you'll see Pennsylvania allows exemptions for both religious and philosophical reasons.

[organicmom3]

This is my understanding as well; however there are districts that demand the parent have a letter from a priest or rabbi or their religious leader stating their claim that it's truly a religious reason. I read on one of the PA sites that it is up to the district to determine if the reason for the exemption is justified so to me that means they can get away with making this demand. Does anyone know of a way to get around this without getting a lawyer to defend the case?

[serenbat]

Read the law closely and you'll see Pennsylvania allows exemptions for both religious and philosophical reasons.

from the letter of the law it doesn't allow for philosophical reason, you only have two, medical or religious, you can not claim philosophical 

 I read on one of the PA sites that it is up to the district to determine if the reason for the exemption is justified so to me that means they can get away with making this demand. 

the law does not say that- you should attach a copy of the law if you want to your paper work for the PS

one thing on a non-state web site does not make it a law in PA

if the school is uninformed you should be informed of your rights and state that to the school-request everything told to you to be put in writing from the PS if there is any question

[Mom2M]

"...on the basis of a strong moral or ethical conviction similar to a religious belief."

This is what we used and had no problem at all. I never filled out the vax form and then a few weeks into the year the school nurse called and asked me about it. All I said was we didn't do all the vaccinations and she said oh, ok, then I just need you to fill out this form and send it back to me. No problems and no formal religion needed, I just wrote that I had a strong philosophical belief against the vaxes we didn't do.

[ma2two]

Originally Posted by serenbat 

from the letter of the law it doesn't allow for philosophical reason, you only have two, medical or religious, you can not claim philosophical 

PA allows for a philosophical exemption if the philosophical beliefs are a "strong moral or ethical conviction similar to a religious belief."

http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/028/chapter23/s23.84.html

[serenbat]

It goes under religious

we only have two, not three

a & b that is all their is

you can read it any way you want but you must claim religious we do not have philosophical exemption as other states do

[organicmom3]

Okay, but what can one do if the school district says you need a signature from a priest or rabbi?  The law does not really state that you need one...obviously if you have a moral conviction SIMILAR to a religious belief, you wouldn't have a priest or rabbi to back that up...  has anyone ever dealt with a district that makes this demand?

[ma2two]

Quote:

Originally Posted by organicmom3 

Okay, but what can one do if the school district says you need a signature from a priest or rabbi?  The law does not really state that you need one...obviously if you have a moral conviction SIMILAR to a religious belief, you wouldn't have a priest or rabbi to back that up...  has anyone ever dealt with a district that makes this demand?

I haven't dealt with that, but I would give them a copy of the law--probably the principal and then the district superintendent if the principal gave me any trouble. If that didn't work, I'd pay a lawyer to write a threatening letter. The law is clear and on your side, so worst case it shouldn't take more than one letter from a lawyer to get them to back down.