What to do if we loose our personal exemption?

[snomnky]

Our children are on a personal vaccine exemption right now.  My concern is that our state may revoke our rights and leave us with only a religious and medical exemption.  We do not subscribe to organized religion, but we are spiritual.  My son may qualify for a medical exemption, but I do not know this for sure.  What would I do?  How religious does a religious exemption need to be?  Thanks.

[Mirzam]

I live in CO and used to use the philosophical exemption for school. I now sign the religious exemption. We are not part of any organized religion, and that is not necessary in CO to file a religious exemption. The practice of vaccination has no part in my spiritual beliefs, so I feel perfectly justified in submitting a religious exemption.

[ma2two]

Since you're worried about losing the personal beliefs exemption, why not just "lose" it now? Then you can stop worrying. Just fill out a new form and check the box for religious.

"Parent or guardian of the above named person or the person himself/herself is an adherent to a religious belief opposed to immunizations."

http://www.cdphe.state.co.us/dc/Immunization/Forms/CARD-certofimm.pdf

That's almost the same statement you signed for the personal beliefs exemption, with "religious belief" substituted for "personal belief."

"Parent or guardian of the above named person or the person himself/herself is an adherent to a personal belief opposed to immunizations."

Edited by ma2two - 5/17/12 at 11:20pm

[bmorehon]

Requirements for a religious exemption differ by state, so you may or may not be able to declare this without belonging to a recognized religious group with known views on vaxing.