gov't needs a note from my "church." *Update 13*

[transformed]

we are applying for aid from the govt like food stamps/medicaid/cash asst and I told the lady it is against our religion to vaccinate. (Because I thought she would leave it alone if I said "religion.") but she didn't.

She needs a note from my "church." (And yes she wrote the quotes on the paper.)

what are my rights? I am in Colorado.

[loveyourohana]

I don't believe this for one second... ask her to give you written proof by law that you must submit something like that. I bet she will leave it alone from there, because I don't believe it exists!

You can have a religious exemption even if you are not affiliated with a certain dominion.

There is a lot here on MDC about it... just read one the other day... it wasn't for Colorado...

I will look around... anyone else have the information? and or laws for Colorado?

I have seen this on here... and think it is good... just need to find the statutes for Colorado to fill in the blanks.

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

[kiara7]

I'm quite sure she doesn't have a leg to stand on. Supreme Court ruled that one does not have to belong to a "church" in order to have sincere religious beliefs regarding anything (including vaccinations)

Ask her for a printed copy of the law (not what she scribbled on a piece of paper) that requires this - there isn't one.

[loveyourohana]

Here it is...

http://www.909shot.com/state-site/Colorado.htm

Notice the word or in this sentence... they don't know the law!!! take this in to them...

Exemption is obtained by "submitting to the student's school a statement of exemption signed by one parent or guardian or the emancipated student OR student eighteen years of age or older that the parent, guardian, or student is an adherent to a religious belief whose teachings are opposed to immunizations OR that they have a personal belief that is opposed to immunizations."


OR that they have a personal belief that is opposed to immunizations."

and a little further down...



C.R.S. 25-4-903 (2006)

25-4-903. Exemptions from immunization

(1) (Deleted by amendment, L. 97, p. 409, § 2, effective July 1, 1997.)

(2) It is the responsibility of the parent or legal guardian to have his or her child immunized unless the child is exempted pursuant to this section. A student shall be exempted from receiving the required immunizations in the following manner:

(a) By submitting to the student's school certification from a licensed physician that the physical condition of the student is such that one or more specified immunizations would endanger his or her life or health or is medically contraindicated due to other medical conditions; or

(b) By submitting to the student's school a statement of exemption signed by one parent or guardian or the emancipated student or student eighteen years of age or older that the parent, guardian, or student is an adherent to a religious belief whose teachings are opposed to immunizations or that the parent or guardian or the emancipated student or student eighteen years of age or older has a personal belief that is opposed to immunizations.

(3) The state board of health may provide, by regulation, for further exemptions to immunization based upon sound medical practice.

(4) All information distributed to parents by school districts regarding immunization shall inform them of their rights under subsection (2) of this section.


You can also opt out of the shot records that are on file for anyone to see is also an option you may want to look at.

Best of luck... hope this helps!

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

Thought this was really really good as well...

http://www.know-vaccines.org/rights.html

[transformed]

but this isnt for school.

[Aliviasmom]

Originally Posted by transformed

but this isnt for school.

I don't think that matters. This is a state LAW. Thereby meaning that the state government can NOT make you give vaccines to your child.

I would also ask for her to provide you with written documentation on what she needs AND WHY.

[transformed]

ooooh. look what I found.

http://www.vaclib.org/pdf/co2.pdf

Scroll all the way to the bottom. This is what I need I think!

[loveyourohana]

I know it isn't for school... but the law still states that they can not force you to vaccinate... this is something that you could rewrite to whatever you need it to be. Sorry, should have mentioned that.

I agree that may be what you need exemption wise.. but they still have no right to request a letter from your religious leader etc. That is unlawful... the law is on your side!

Good luck... let us know how it all goes.

good find btw... I really like that vaclib.org site... they have a lot!

Also notice that the vaccination exemption letter in my first post has nothing to do with school either... but you could put in the law statutes from your state into that letter, and hand it in, just in case the other doesn't satisfy.

They can not deny you based on vaccination... its against the law... still looking for the other thread about this same issue.

[coloradoalice]

Originally Posted by transformed

ooooh. look what I found.

http://www.vaclib.org/pdf/co2.pdf

Scroll all the way to the bottom. This is what I need I think!

I would just submit that.

I'm in Colorado also and vaccination schedules are only for school attendance afaik. If it's for government assistance then you are golden, they cannot require anything of you, we have a philosophical exemption here for pete's sake!! You certainly don't need a note from anyone.

Please update this once you have it all settled, since I'm in the state I am very interested to know how it turns out.

[k9sarchik]

You can claim a philosophical exemption. Then there is nothing you need to give them because you are philosophically opposed to vaccines period.

[Mirzam]

Originally Posted by transformed

ooooh. look what I found.

http://www.vaclib.org/pdf/co2.pdf

Scroll all the way to the bottom. This is what I need I think!

I'm in Colorado too, and yes, just give the the form you have there. It's actually for school, but that's the only one we have, but it should work just fine. Are you homeschooling?

Please do let us know how it goes.

[Proverbs31]

Scroll down to page 2. You do need to submit a statement, but it can just be your personal statemet; it doesn't have to be from a church.

http://www.co.larimer.co.us/humanser...unizations.pdf
In the event that the caretaker relative indicates that immunizations are against his or her religion, the technician shall request that the caretaker indicate in a signed, written statement that s/he is a practicing specified religion and that it is against the religious doctrine to immunize a child. This statement shall be considered verification of the religious objection and the child or children will be exempted from the immunization requirements.

[transformed]

they just denied my case because I didnt provide a letter from my religious organization. :

wtf.

[Kabes]

appeal -That sucks big time and is wrong on so many levels.

[MadameXCupcake]

Do you have their rejection in writing? And the reason?
I really do not think they can do that..

[kiara7]

Did you submit a religious exemption letter? Can we see it?

It is illegal for them to deny you benefits on basis of religion. That is religious discrimination. Do you have their denial in writing?

[yarngoddess]

We get aid in California, and had to submit a letter of exemption. I agree that you need to appeal, and take in a signed exemption form. I used the one on the department of education's website for my children. There was no issue there.

All they want is a paper trail. You provide the paper trail, and they are happy. If you fail to provide an exemption, SS cards, birth certificate, paper like that then yes they are going to deny you aid. You can however apeal. Just have the school exemption form and a copy of Colorado's laws regarding vaccination. This worker has denied your claim because he/she probably has never faced a non vaxer. We had a similar situation.

They tried to tell me that to get food stamps and cash aid we would need to enroll in school- or a charter school and get vaccinated immediately. Lucky for us I already had the 'paper proof' that stated otherwise. They made copy's and we got our aide.

so sorry for your family! I hope you are able to get this resolved soon- I know how horrible it is to wait.

[Full Heart]

We get aid in AZ and I don't think we have ever been asked. But if you have a philosophical exemption in CO I would just use that. We did get denied because we didn't provide them with dates to ebay transactions (so they said, we did and proved we did in an appeal and got our aid back). Sometimes its their mistake and they have to correct it. I would keep going back till you get your aid.

[transformed]

I turned in that vax schedule with the religous part filled out. I do have philosophical rights, I told her to just change it to that.

I should not have to disclose my religion. This is America. I can make up a freaking religion if I want to.

[theretohere]

Wow, that doesn't seem right- I hope that someone can help you!