tell me about your religious exemption

[emilyw99]

i remember reading a thread here about what constitutes a sound argument for religious exemption that i would like to revisit or have someone recap for me (since i don't remember the specifics). i remember that some of the arguments were very subtle. for example, the statement "i think it's wrong to inject my child with fetal cells" would be considered a philosophical objection to vaccination, but not a religious one. am i remembering correctly? i would love to hear thoughts on why vaccinating would be against one's religion (even if the religion isn't an organized one). thanks!

[amydidit]

For me it's because I believe that God (or the Creator, or whatever you call Him/Her) made us each perfectly and to inject vaccines is going against how He/She created us. If we needed those vaccines in our bodies I believe we'd be born with them.

[Gitti]

If the blood of the human body is not sacred, what is?

Not my words but they fit.

[Gitti]

Originally Posted by amydidit

For me it's because I believe that God (or the Creator, or whatever you call Him/Her) made us each perfectly and to inject vaccines is going against how He/She created us. If we needed those vaccines in our bodies I believe we'd be born with them.

We are! We are born with all the right components to keep us as healthy as we are supposed to be. And to heal us when we do get sick.

Same as circumcison. Why did God attach a fores skin to the penis when it is so dirty and disease causing?

Weird Mother Nature did it! It's a flaw.

[Emmeline II]

Here I am to save the day ...




Your religious beliefs can change, so you can exempt a previously vaxed child. You could also pretend your child is not vaxed to make life easier.


Some states, like NY(contact Gary Krasner for help -- On the NYS form they request that your letter:

-explains why are you are requesting the exemption
-describes the religious principles that guide your objection to vaxes
-indicates whether you are opposed to all vaxes, and if not, why you are opposed to some vaxes but not others

As long as your letter covered those 3 points then they shouldn't ask for any "supporting evidence".)


and NJ allow the state to question the sincerity of your beliefs; the following is VERY important.



-For a religious exemption you need to be "against the practice of vaccination". If you give your reasons to be against vaccinations as:

"I'm against vaccination because they use aborted fetal cells" - This is a philosophical reason.

"I'm against pre-marital sex and some vaxes are for sexually transmitted diseases." This is a philosophical reason.

Again, you have to be against the the practice of vaccination. For a more through explanation of why this is read the Wexler decision below.

-Also, you DO NOT have to be a member of a religion doctrinally opposed to vaccination. You can be Wiccan, Lutheran, Catholic, Jewish, church of the flip flops, and still claim a religious exemption do to your personal religious beliefs against the practice of vaccination. Dr. Mercola does a good job of explaining this in my Religious Exemptions link below (you may have to register to read it).

-One more thing, you do not want to include specific biblical verses as your interpretation could be challenged. You need to describe your personal religious beliefs.


-Require that all questions regarding your exemption be in writing and give answers in writing. Do not give verbal responses.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Religious Exemptions

The Wexler Decision

To find out what exemptions are offered by your state (for school and such) check here:
http://www.nvic.org/state-site/state-exemptions.htm
http://www.novaccine.com/law-exemptions/


All states except West Virginia and Mississippi offer religious and/or philosophical exemptions, and the supreme court ruled that you do not have to belong to a non-vaxing religion or have clergy sign your religious exemption. Exemptions can be submitted in lieu of vaccination records (I would do it this way).

State mandatory vaccination laws have their roots in the 1905 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Jacobsen v Massachusetts. A Swedish Lutheran pastor, Reverend Henning Jacobsen and his son objected to a law requiring revaccination with smallpox vaccine because they had suffered severe reactions to the first vaccination. The nine Supreme Court justices at the turn of the century denied Jacobsen and his lawyers the right to present scientific evidence for harm caused by the smallpox vaccine, preferring to believe the lawyers representing public health officials who convinced them that doctors could predict ahead of time who would be injured by vaccination.

100wds.



A US Federal Court ruling (binding on NY only) that determined that you do not have to belong to a particular religion to use a religious exemption is:
Sherr v. Northport-East Northport Union Free Sch. Dist., 672 F. Supp. 81, 89-90 (E.D. N.Y. 1987)
http://www.vaclib.org/exempt/consent.htm

http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vac-gen/...es_chptr13.htm

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

[zinemama]

We just have a box for religious exemption on the school form. I check the box. Never had to explain anything.

[quarteralien]

Originally Posted by Emmeline II

Sample Religious Exemption Letter

[/SIZE]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

Thanks for including this. In this example you include more than just vaxes, which is what worried me about getting a religious exemption. My preemie gets Synagis, which is not a vax, but it is a prophylaxis. It will only be the winter, and DS1 starts kindergarten next year. Do you or does anyone know if DS2 getting Synagis will affect DS1's exemption?

[AugustLia23]

My religious exemption for NY included a statement saying something like:

I will be filing for religious exemption because vaccines are against our sincere religious beliefs. The principle reason I refuse vaccines for myself and my family is because we are against injecting ourselves with preservatives and artificial chemicals. We believe that our bodies are well designed to prevent and/or heal from all vaccine preventable diseases. We decline all vaccines.

That wasn't word for word what I wrote down, but the preschool accepted it.

[Haydee]

I didn't use the NYS form, I wrote my own letter and handed it to the principal. It included a statement something like this: In compliance with NYS law, We herewith submit a written statement to exempt our child NAME from the immunization requirement, and the Mantoux (PPD) Tuberculin Test, because we hold genuine and sincere personal religious beliefs which are inconsistent with these medical procedures. The practice of vaccination is contrary to our conscientiously held religious beliefs and practices, and violates the free exercise of our religious principles.

The principal passed it on to whoever needed it, and the district never questioned it. I didn't want to give them anything to use trying to claim it was philosophical reasoning, not religious.

[Metasequoia]

Is it best to have a religious exemption JIC? We haven't had the need since we homeschool & nobody has asked. I'm wondering if it's opening a can of worms to submit one rather than just stay under the radar.

Who DO you send an exemption to?

And, if exdp & I are separated but there is no custody arrangement (we were never married & the kids have always lived with just me) - can I just file an exemption without his signature? Will he be notified of my filing?

[spero]

Originally Posted by Haydee

I didn't use the NYS form, I wrote my own letter

I was able to do this three years ago when submitting my DD's exemption, but now the school requires the NYSED form. So I just modified the letter and attached it to the form as my "explanation of beliefs".

In compliance with NYS law, We herewith submit a written statement to exempt our child NAME from the immunization requirement, and the Mantoux (PPD) Tuberculin Test, because we hold genuine and sincere personal religious beliefs which are inconsistent with these medical procedures.

Be aware, for possible future reference, that tuberculin testing does not fall under the umbrella of NYS exemption law, because, like newborn Vit K and silver nitrate drops, it isn't considered "immunization".

Originally Posted by Metasequoia

Is it best to have a religious exemption JIC? We haven't had the need since we homeschool & nobody has asked. I'm wondering if it's opening a can of worms to submit one rather than just stay under the radar.

Who DO you send an exemption to?

And, if exdp & I are separated but there is no custody arrangement (we were never married & the kids have always lived with just me) - can I just file an exemption without his signature? Will he be notified of my filing?

You would only submit one to a school or daycare that lawfully requires vaccination records; so no, you don't need one "JIC" for any other reason.

You'll have to check your state laws about signing. I signed my kids' forms myself.

[quarteralien]

Originally Posted by quarteralien

Thanks for including this. In this example you include more than just vaxes, which is what worried me about getting a religious exemption. My preemie gets Synagis, which is not a vax, but it is a prophylaxis. It will only be the winter, and DS1 starts kindergarten next year. Do you or does anyone know if DS2 getting Synagis will affect DS1's exemption?

Does anyone have any idea on this please?

Also, I haven't heard before of people opting out of tuberculosis testing. Why does this fall under religious exemption?

[emilyw99]

thanks, everyone (especially emmeline)!

related question: i know that you can't technically selectively vaccinate with a religious exemption, but what prevents someone from filing a religious exemption and then paying for one or two vaccines out of pocket (thus, not reporting to insurance)? do ped's report vacc info to the government? can schools access my child's vacc record without my consent?

[Emmeline II]

Originally Posted by emilyw99

thanks, everyone (especially emmeline)!

related question: i know that you can't technically selectively vaccinate with a religious exemption, but what prevents someone from filing a religious exemption and then paying for one or two vaccines out of pocket (thus, not reporting to insurance)? do ped's report vacc info to the government? can schools access my child's vacc record without my consent?

You don't have to report it to insurance if your state has a mandatory registry accessible by the school.

[Drummer's Wife]

Originally Posted by emilyw99

thanks, everyone (especially emmeline)!

related question: i know that you can't technically selectively vaccinate with a religious exemption, but what prevents someone from filing a religious exemption and then paying for one or two vaccines out of pocket (thus, not reporting to insurance)? do ped's report vacc info to the government? can schools access my child's vacc record without my consent?

there is no reason you can't do this.

My oldest had most of her vaxes on time, my youngest did up until 9 mos. Yet, for both I claim a religious exemption for school and state that we are religiously opposed to all vaccines... because I am now and IMO it's none of their business which ones we did do years ago.

Here in NM we had to sign a religious exemption and have it notarized. They then send one copy to the health department for "approval" and keep one in the school's file. Not as simple as it was in CO but easy enough for my DH to do on his lunch break.

[spero]

Originally Posted by quarteralien

Also, I haven't heard before of people opting out of tuberculosis testing. Why does this fall under religious exemption?

In some states, you can use religious exemption to refuse testing (specifically, TB testing because they inject stuff into you) and prophylaxis (like the aforementioned Vitamin K & eye drops).

Originally Posted by emilyw99

related question: i know that you can't technically selectively vaccinate with a religious exemption, but what prevents someone from filing a religious exemption and then paying for one or two vaccines out of pocket (thus, not reporting to insurance)? do ped's report vacc info to the government? can schools access my child's vacc record without my consent?

Anyone administering a vaccine must enter the info into the state vaccine registry. In some states, you can opt-out of the registry. In my state, you can't.

Yes, schools can access the registry if you've requested exemption and they want to make sure you aren't selectively vaccinating.

Originally Posted by Drummer's Wife

My oldest had most of her vaxes on time, my youngest did up until 9 mos. Yet, for both I claim a religious exemption for school and state that we are religiously opposed to all vaccines... because I am now and IMO it's none of their business which ones we did do years ago.

That's not really considered selective vaxing, though. Your "beliefs" changed (you changed your mind).

[quarteralien]

Originally Posted by spero

In some states, you can use religious exemption to refuse testing (specifically, TB testing because they inject stuff into you) and prophylaxis (like the aforementioned Vitamin K & eye drops).

Which goes back to my original question about Synagis, which isn't a vax, but is a an injectable prophylaxis.

[spero]

AFAIK, the Synagis shouldn't affect your other child's exemption, since - as you mentioned - it isn't a vaccine.

[quarteralien]

I'd hope not. It's just starting to worry me that some include other prophylaxis measures in their religious exemption. I've heard enough horror stories about getting exemptions in this state to be paranoid about getting it right.

[Haydee]

Originally Posted by quarteralien

I'd hope not. It's just starting to worry me that some include other prophylaxis measures in their religious exemption. I've heard enough horror stories about getting exemptions in this state to be paranoid about getting it right.

I didn't include prophylaxis in my exemption letter and I got the exemption no problem.