You know the dangers of vaccines but aren’t sure how to go about it legally? You need to read this post, know your options, and get an exemption.
Debates on vaccines heated up a lot in the last decade; however, this article is for those of you who know you don’t want to vaccinate and need to know how to prevent forced vaccination. If you need to learn more about vaccines, check out our Vaccine Guide.
How do you keep your little ones protected from vaccines you do not wish them to have?
Most states only have laws regarding vaccination requirements for school or daycare entry. If you are planning to homeschool, you will still want to follow the law, but you will have less regulations to encounter. There are however 11 states that require homeschoolers to vaccinate (whether they require homeschool parents to submit proof varies).
Some workplaces also have requirements for vaccines, especially surrounding the “pandemic response” of the last few years. These will typically have an exemption available. That will have to be a topic for another day though.
There are three types of vaccination exemption for school available in the United States: philosophical, religious, and medical.
Philosophical Exemptions
Seventeen states have philosophical vaccine exemptions, based on a parent’s philosophical viewpoint. If you live in one of these states, this is definitely your best bet as you don’t need a religious affiliation or a physician to sign off. There is generally a form to fill out and submit by the start of the school year. You may need to research what form it is as many school administration offices are not familiar with this. I have even heard of them saying there is no exemption for vaccines despite the state having all three available! Research and ask local freedom minded groups for help finding the necessary forms if help is needed (for example, in Wisconsin, we have a group called Wisconsin United For Freedom that advocates for informed consent and helps each other find the needed information, etc).
The states with philosophical exemptions:
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- Idaho
- Maine
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Washington
- Wisconsin
- Vermont
Religious Exemptions
All but four states have religious exemptions. Use a religious exemption if your state does not have a philosophical exemption or if you have sincere religious beliefs against injecting animal DNA, aborted fetal DNA, or injecting the human body in general with something you feel is not what your religious beliefs allow. Some states require you to prove your religious affiliation or get a clergy signature.
A form may be required, or you may need to write your own religious exemption letter. When writing the letter, be as vague and basic as possible. There is still freedom of religion in this country, and it is good to separate these tenets when possible.
Check with your local groups, clergy, or NVIC if you need more assistance.
There are a few states that do not have a religious exemption: California, New York, and West Virginia. If you live here and moving is an option, consider it! If not, read below on how to still avoid vaccinating in these states.
Medical Exemptions
Every state has medical exemptions, but they are easier to come by in some states than in others. In many states, that typically means your child must suffer a severe reaction to vaccines before being allowed to obtain one (gee, thanks!). For that reason, you will likely want to seek a religious, or philosophical exemption if available to you. If you qualify for the medical exemption in any state, be sure to get it as it’s the “strongest” exemption.
In other states, such as Illinois, a law was passed in 2016 allowing a physician to determine a child’s need for a medical exemption based on their own professional opinion. Many opt to test for genetic mutations, such as MTHFR, which impair a person’s ability to detoxify the harmful ingredients in vaccines.
There are also some concerning stories of physicians explaining that they cannot “give out” exemptions without being harassed by medical boards and regulators. I have even heard that physicians are unable to do wide based exemptions, only specific vaccine ones which are complicated when 3-5 are given at a time so the physician is then uncertain which one caused the reaction!
In this case, your best bet is homeschooling! Homeschooling is far better and easier than you may be thinking. There are entire curriculums and even online schools, as well as homeschool cooperatives where a number of teachers teach your homeschooled child. There are so many homeschooling resources, you do not have to worry you will be doing it alone anymore – unless you want to! Check out our many homeschooling blogs for more help and resources.
What Are Your Next Steps?
As soon as you plan to enroll or your child reaches the age of school enrollment, file a vaccine exemption. Even if you homeschool, it’s a good idea to keep applicable state exemptions on file with the school administrator, which would be the mother or father. Check the NVIC.org web site for vaccine laws in your area, and search Facebook and social media for “informed consent” or “vaccine rights” groups in your state (use search terms like united for freedom, parent’s rights, etc as facebook and other platforms censor vaccine related terms). If you cannot locate them, NVIC normally can direct you to their information.
When you file your exemption with a daycare or school, I suggest you include a copy of the state law. Surprisingly, even school nurses and administrators are not familiar with the law, and may try to tell you they don’t accept exemptions or yours isn’t valid. And don’t ask “if” they allow the exemption – they have to by law! Be confident and well versed in the law, and let them know you are following the law with your exemption, and expect them to also. Period.
You have the right to vaccine exemptions, so exercise your freedom with confidence.
It is posts like these that make me so happy that my children are vaccinated. It was a difficult choice to do so because my older son did have a reaction to the Prevnar vaccine that resulted in a slightly delayed vaccine schedule. I am also very upset that you wish to encourage people to undermine the exemption rules for states…the reason California changed its exemption laws was because of nonsense posts like this, encouraging people to ignore decades of vaccine research. Many vaccines have been studied for 50 or more years and the one publicized ‘doctor’ to say that vaccines cause autism was a discredited, irreputable man who used statisitcs to lie. My mother grew up when polio, measles, mumps, etc were common. Kids were not “better off” getting these diseases. My own mom had almost total vision loss due to measles. To not vaccinate should be your choice (that you have researched carefully and of which you understand the serious risks you could be taking). With the exception of one or two vaccines that are shown to not be as effective (like flu), I do believe that children who aren’t vaccinated should be homeschooled (unless a child has a case of actual medical need and not abuse of the system meant to protect kids with real needs). And if you do homeschool, then you don’t need to abuse the system for an exemption. And let’s be real…even the Catholic church supports vaccination as part of its pro life position.
Thank you for saying this! I’m an ER RN and I’ve seen kids come in so sick from PREVENTABLE diseases for which wet have vaccines, only to wind up in the ICU intubated and in a vent, or so sick by the time they come to us they are in septic shock and difficult to pull back from the brink of death. As you rightly point out, most vaccines have been studied for decades. They are why some duseases6were eliminired6in our parents’ or grandparents’ lifetimes. They are why peyote considered them miraculous. My maternal grandmother had 9 siblings, but only 5 made it to adulthood because of measles, whooping cough, and scarlet fever. People are free to go back to those ways if they want, but as you say, those kids should absolutely bee homeschooled so they aren’t vectors of disease for many other people. Groups of brainwashed anti-vacc moms are the reason why we’ve had large outbreaks of formerly eliminated or rare childhood diseases in recent years. If people want to go back to the 1800s (or 1930s!) medically speaking, I know grandmother would NEVER have done that; she suffered too much loss too young, as did my great grandmother. Sure, living in the terrible past where kids died of diseases we can now prevent is peoples’ right… Just keep them away from the rest of us living in the 21st century!
Oh Tammy. You are part of the sheeple. You need the government to tell you how to live and what is in the best interest of your kids. It is weak minded people like you that allow for this ridiculous unmoral law to exist in this Country! Pathetic!
IN 2011, AFTER SEEING ALL THE SCIENCE, THE HIGHEST COURT IN AMERICA RULED: “VACCINES ARE UNAVOIDABLY UNSAFE.”
According to the FDA, 99% of serious adverse reactions are NOT reported.
According to the CDC, 90% of serious adverse reactions are NOT reported.
Medical students are told NOT to report suspected adverse events even though federal law requires doctors to.
According to the ASSOC. OF AMERICAN PHYSICIANS AND SURGEONS, 90% of serious vaccine adverse reactions are NOT reported.
THE 1986 VACCINE INJURY ACT GRANTS IMMUNITY TO VACCINE MAKERS FROM LAWSUITS. VACCINE-MAKERS THREATENED TO NOT MAKE ANYMORE VACCINES UNLESS PRESIDENT REAGAN SIGNED THE VACCINE INJURY ACT.
SINCE PRESIDENT REAGAN KNEW THAT THE VACCINE INDUSTRY WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING TO MAKE THEIR VACCINES SAFER, HE SIGNED THE VACCINE INJURY ACT SO THAT AT LEAST, COMPENSATION CAN BE AWARDED TO THOSE INJURED BY VACCINATION (THIS IS DONE FROM THE TAX ON VACCINES). THIS FOREVER MADE BIG PHARMA INVINCIBLE, UNTOUCHABLE, AND UNSTOPPABLE. SINCE THEY HAVE NO INCENTIVE WHATSOEVER TO MAKE THEIR VACCINES SAFE OR SAFER, THEY CAN PUT ANYTHING THEY WANT IN THEIR VACCINES AND NOT BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE IF YOU OR YOUR CHILD GET ANY OF THE SERIOUS ADVERSE REACTIONS (SIDS, AUTISM, ADD, ADHD, PARALYSIS, DEATH, CANCER, ETC.) TO VACCINE INGREDIENTS: THIMEROSAL (MERCURY), ALUMINUM, FORMALDEHYDE, ANIMAL AND HUMAN FOREIGN MATTER, ETC. SINCE THOSE INGREDIENTS HAVE BEEN FOUND TO IMPAIR BRAIN FUNCTION AND SUPPRESS IMMUNE FUNCTION.
THOSE ARE ALL RED FLAGS.
90-95% of 1900’s childhood infectious disease mortality rate decline PRECEDED the vaccines.
PLEASE DO YOUR HOMEWORK, OR BETTER YET, TALK WITH A TOXICOLOGY PROFESSOR OR BIOCHEMISTRY PROFESSOR. THEY KNOW MORE ABOUT THOSE TOXIC VACCINE INGREDIENTS THAN DOCTORS AND NURSES. WHAT DOCTORS AND NURSES KNOW IS CONTROLLED INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE VACCINE-MAKER.
YOU’RE WELCOME. GO AND SAVE OTHERS.
Hi Danielle,
thank you so much!this is so informative!my question is where do i take my 4 year old to get tested for the MTHR? He’s just received a vaccine and is having adverse effects (mood swings, on /off crying, sometimes unresponsive when he’s asked questions-my pediatrician is recommending in see a nuerologist? I’m very concerned and no longer want him receiving any additional vaccines. please help! i live in NYC and I’m not sure where to get him tested.
Danielle, I know those trolls negative posts are old, but I hope you didn’t stop posting because of these two ignorant Kool-Aid drinkers. You are spot on, and know this…our numbers are growing, be encouraged! I am a card carrying anti-vaxxer! Your educating the public not only show true love to your own children, but those of other people also. Thank you and many blessings!
Help us in MAINE!!!
Every non-vaccer from every state in the USA please call the Maine governors office and tell Governor Janet Mills to please not sign the bill that will force every child to be unethically vaccinated against their will.
Maine is trying to take away human rights. It’s disgusting, we need everyone’s help. We need everybody who believes in human rights to call the Maine governor NOW!!!
If anyone knows a way around the system please post on Maine based social media sites for all of us Mainer’s. We may need to find medical exemptions and would like to know what you did to get yours. Use Craigslist, West End News, Nextdoor, or any other website that you are able to post comments on for free.
There has got to be ways around this and we need your help.
Thank you for your support.
I have an issue with getting an exemption if you homeschool in states where you need to get the form directly from the DOH and then they have your information. We all know what can happen when your info is in some state database- nothing good comes out of it.
I also think that this article needs to be updated with the most recent draconian laws passed by California and New York- truly Orwellian.
“my older son did have a reaction to the Prevnar vaccine that resulted in a slightly delayed vaccine schedule”
AND WAS A VAERS FILED?
I AM GUESSING NO, BUT IF YES WHAT WAS THE OUTCOME?
LAWSUIT? PROBABLY NOT BECAUSE A VACCINE COMPANY CAN RARELY BE SUED.
My mother grew up when polio, measles, mumps, etc were common. Kids were not “better off” getting these diseases. My own mom had almost total vision loss due to measles.
MY FAMILY ALSO HAD MEASLES AND THEY HAVE THE BEST IMMUNE SYSTEMS AND LUCKILY NO SIDE EFFECTS FROM MEASLES.
“To not vaccinate should be your choice”
EXACTLY! BUT ITS NOT A CHOICE!
“I do believe that children who aren’t vaccinated should be homeschooled”
THIS STATEMENT ALWAYS MAKES NO SENSE HOW CAN A CHILD WHO DOESNT HAVE A DISEASE/VIRUS SPREAD THE VIRUS OR DISEASE. PLEASE DON’T TELL ME THEY ARE SILENT SPREADERS THAT ALSO MAKES NO SENSE.