Lawmakers all over the U.S. scamble like mad to force parents to
vaccinate their children these days. Getting an exemption usually requires a lot
of hassle with low level bureaucrats who think they know what's best for you and
your children. Happily, we still have some religious freedom in this country,
and you can exercise your right to religious freedom when making immunization
decisions for your children. Read what follows for a sample template to help you
get started should you choose this option.
A Section of
the Informed
Parents Vaccination Home Page
Disclaimer: This page is for educational purposes only. It is not intended to serve as legal advice, nor is it intended to take the place of appropriate legal counsel. As with any legal matter, you should consult a qualified lawyer for your specific needs.
Religious exemptions are acceptable in most U.S. states, but specific vaccination laws from state to state. Be sure to check with the state dept. of epidemiology, vaccinations, immunizations, or whatever it is called in your state, to find out the laws for your state. Some require that you file for an exemption certificate, others require only a properly written letter. In any case, the following may help you with this process.
This is a copy of a letter from a lawyer to an immunization nurse, regarding a religious exemption from vaccinations for his North Carolina clients' children. This letter was accepted by health officials for a religious exemption in two different North Carolina counties. In one instance, the parents modified this letter to be from themselves instead of from the lawyer--you may not need to have the letter come from a lawyer if you cannot find or afford one, (though having a lawyer write or review your letter may be the only way to guarantee that your letter conforms to state legal requirements).
Notice that the letter refers to previous “personal” religious exemption court cases; i.e. it may not be necessary to belong to a religion that specifically states opposition to vaccination in its official doctrine to have an acceptable religious exemption from immunizations.
Important: You may adapt this letter to reflect your true, personal religious beliefs, and make other changes where appropriate. You should probably have your Religious Exemption for Vaccination Letter notarized before submitting it to the appropriate healthcare authorities, and you may also wish to send it registered mail to get confirmation of its arrival and receipt by the appropriate official.
[June 1996]
County Health Dept. [address]
Attention: [Immunization nurse’s name]
RE: [first child’s name, date of birth] [second child’s name, date of birth]...
Dear Nurse [name]:
This office has been retained as counsel to represent [parent’s names], individually, on behalf of their children, [children’s names], with regard to my clients’ rights for an exemption from immunizations as provided by North Carolina Statutes 130A-157.
The present situation stems from my client’s refusal to have their children, [children’s names], submit to immunizations and innoculations as perscribed by North Carolina Statutes 130A-152. My clients have the right to refuse to have their children receive these injections pursuant to North Carolina Statutes 130A-137, since they have sincere religious beliefs which prohibit them from having their children receive immunizations and innoculations.
Recent court decisions have upheld the rights of individuals seeking exemptions from immunizations based upon “personal” religious beliefs. (Sherr and Levy vs. Northport East-Northport Union Free School District, 672 F. Supp. 81, (E.D.N.Y., 1987); (Allanson vs. Clinton Central School District, U.S. District Court, Northern District Court, Northern District of New York (84 CV 174), 1984; Campain vs. Marlboro Central School District, Supreme Court Ulster County Special Term, November 15, 1985; Brown vs. City School District, 429 NYS2d 355; Maier vs. Besser, 73 Misc.2d 241).
My clients’ religious beliefs include the following:
[editor’s note: amend the beliefs below as needed to have them apply to you; what you put here is up to you. Should your exemption be challenged, it will be up to the challenger to prove that what you state here is not your bona fide religious belief, a generally difficult thing to prove.]
“We believe in God, and that God has created us in his image. In being created in God’s image, we are given his perfect immune system. We are bestowed with His gift, the immune system. We believe it is sacrilegious and a violation of our sacred religious beliefs to violate what God has given us by showing a lack of faith in God. Immunizations are a lack of faith in God and His way, the immune system.”
[editor’s note: this last sentence is the crux of this religious exemption argument.]
“We believe in Jesus’ many promises of protection for us, and the He loves us, and will take care of us if we place our trust in Him. I believe that immunizations show no faith in God’s promises of protection for us, saying to God that you trust man more than His holy words of protection for us.”
“God desires us to love Him and our neighbors first and foremost. This is His first command. By loving Him, we are to fully trust on Him for all things. He is our Lord Father. He is our Rock, our fortress and our Savior.”
“Our faith is in God and in the Holy Word, being the Holy Bible which is authored by God. This is the instruction book for living that He has left us and in it He tells us He is our protector and we stand firm on His promise. Our faith is in Him!”
My clients’ religious beliefs are also based upon the understanding of what God requires of them as provided for in the Bible.
[editor’s note: add/delete quotes as suits your personal beliefs]
“Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you,
which ye have of God and ye are not your own?”
(1st COR 6:19)
“That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of
God.”
(1st COR 2:5)
“You must know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is within
the spirit you have received from God. You are not your own.”
(1st COR
6:19)
“As a consequence, your faith rests not on the wisdom of men but on the power
of God.”
(1st COR 2:5)
“I know with certainly on the authority of Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean
in itself: it is only when a man thinks something unclean that it becomes so for
him.”
(Romans 14:14)
“If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, and you are that temple.” (1st COR: 3:17)
“For to his angels he has given command about you, that they guard you in all
your ways.”
(Psalms 91:11)
“Follow God your Lord, remain in awe of him, keep His commandments, obey and
serve Him and you will then be able to cling to Him.”
(Leviticus,
19:1,2)
I anticipate a prompt response from you or the appropriate official.
Very truly yours,
[lawyer’s name]
cc: [parents’ names]
Special thanks to the parents whose time and money were spent obtaining this letter, and who endured weeks of emotional harassment from health authorities before ending their battles with the above letter format. It is posted here with their permission, in the hopes that it will help others to avoid what they went through.
Please send any additional Biblical passages, quotes from other religious texts, or other related information to obtaining a religious exemption from vaccinations to chet@chetday.com, and I'll add them to the sample template.
Thank You!
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Only by taking charge of our own health can we lessen the threat of the "health
care" machine that would take our money, our peace of mind, and our chances for
a healthy, happy, productive old age. For more information about Health &
Beyond, contact Chet Day by email at chet@chetday.com or visit his
web site at http://chetday.com