Which Vaccination Exemptions Are Allowed by Colorado?

In an attempt to improve vaccination rates, Colorado health officials are putting tighter controls on exemptions from immunization for religious or personal beliefs, The Denver Post reported. The state allows medical exemptions.

Medical exemptions are normally allowed for children whose parents submit to school authorities a certified statement from a doctor or advanced practicing nurse. Children receive an exemption from vaccinations if it is determined vaccines could endanger their lives because of their particular medical condition.

VOTE NOW: Should Parents Have the Freedom Not to Vaccinate Their Children?

Parents were also able to request exemptions if their religious beliefs were opposed to immunizations or they were personally opposed to vaccinations, according to the National Vaccine Information Center.

The parents or guardians needed to submit these requests just once. However, updated rules from the state Board of Health, effective July 2016, require requests for exemptions be made each year for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Exemption requests for children in preschool must be made when recommended vaccines are due.

Colorado had a non-medical exemption rate of 4.6 percent, compared to a national average of 1.8 percent, according to The Denver Post. Officials hope to improve communication and reports on immunization rates between schools and state health officials. It was reported that many schools didn’t properly document immunization rates or enforce rules set down by health officials.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper said the new rules should strengthen immunization rates in the state and create a better working environment for state health agencies, the medical community and parents.

Stronger regulations for immunization in Colorado and other states have been developed following outbreaks of measles and other diseases throughout the country. Children who are not vaccinated are more likely to transmit diseases, which could be prevented by vaccines.

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The new rules require schools and child-care centers to report each year on their vaccination and exemption rates to the state health department. Parents can then make better decisions on where to send their children to school if they are concerned about the risk of outbreaks, according to health officials.

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