Which Vaccination Exemptions Are Allowed by Virginia?

As a matter of public health, school districts across the country have vaccination requirements for enrollment. There are certain exemptions for vaccinations in Virginia that parents can request.

The National Vaccine Information Center lists both medical and religious exemptions for vaccinations in Virginia. These same exemptions can apply for day care enrollments.

The Virginia Department of Health requires a schedule of vaccinations as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control for all children in public or private schools. Vaccinations are required also for children to attend day care, whether it be a family home day care, day care center, or religious day care.

URGENT: Should States Be Allowed to Make Health Decisions for Your Children?

Virginia requires vaccinations of the following infectious diseases for school admittance:

• tetanus, pertussis, and diphtheria (DTaP)
• hepatitis B
• haemophilus influenzae Type B (Hib)
• measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR)
• polio
• chickenpox
• pneumoccoccal disease (PCV13 or PPSV23), for children younger than 5 years
• human papillomavirus (HPV), first dose prior to sixth-grade attendance

For parents opposed to vaccinations on religious grounds, the Commonwealth of Virginia offers a Certificate of Religious Exemption. The form asks a parent or guardian to fill out one per child and sign off on the statement: “The administration of immunizing agents conflicts with the above named student’s/my religious tenets or practices.”

The parent or guardian must also agree to have the child pulled out of school if there is an outbreak of diseases other children are vaccinated against. The form has to be notarized by a notary public.

Virginia offers a space on the school entrance health form to mark a medical exemption for vaccinations. It must be specified and signed by a medical provider or a health department official. The doctor can either make the exemption permanent or temporary until a specified date.

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