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Exemption Letters

"If it's not broken, don't fix it," is a new emerging paradigm among parents who have witnessed their children, relatives' and/or neighbors' children suffering serious problems following vaccinations. Most are not being informed by their doctors that they have a legal right to a religious exemption to forgo vaccinations. When they do find out, they are usually unaware of the details of pursuing one and automatically feel that they are not entitled if they are not Christian Scientists.

Thanks to the Christian Scientists, founded by Mary Baker Eddy in Boston, in 1879 [ God's Perfect Child , Caroline Fraser, a 1999, p. 15] forty-eight out of fifty states (excluding Mississippi and West Virginia) obtained religious exemptions to vaccination in the 1950's. "Christian Scientists, like Mormons and other advocates of new religions were widely held in suspicion, and then they were brought up on charges when their children died, while other bereaved parents were considered blameless. Indeed, the argument that children died under medical care as often as, if not more often than, children under Christian Science care became one of the most effective legal tools in Scientist's defense. In Los Angeles, in 1902, Merrill Reed and his wife, both Scientists, were tried for manslaughter after their young daughter died of diphtheria. . . Their lawyer argued. . .that the diphtheria antitoxin was still considered an experimental and controversial treatment among doctors; that a significant percentage of diphtheria sufferers still died even after receiving the antitoxin; and that the Reeds had believed that their daughter's conditions was improving shortly before she died. In 1902, the Reeds were acquitted." [Ibid., p. 270, 271.]

But eventually that argument would not work in court and legal remedies were pursued. "In 1955, the U.S. Senate announced that it would hold hearings on the freedom of religion; the Church replied with a lengthy document outlining all the infringements on Scientists' freedom. The Church requested exemption on religious grounds from compulsory vaccination and inoculation; compulsory X-ray chest exams; compulsory physical examinations of schoolchildren. . . The 1955 hearings were broken off before they were completed, but the Church would dedicate itself over the next several decades to the enactment of federal and state statutes guaranteeing Scientists this laundry list of exemptions. . ." [ Ibid ., p. 273-4.]

Initially, only Christian Scientists were supposed to be entitled to a religious exemption and New Jersey used to have a form designed by the Health Department for this purpose. All that was required was a signature. However, in the early 1990's the law was amended to include all religions so as not to be discriminatory. The Health regulations were changed and now a letter is required which " explains how the administration of immunizing agents conflicts with the pupil's exercise of bona fide religious tenets or practices." Technically, it is illegal for the school or health department to ask what religion you belong to, however, it has been left to the parents who are now exercising this right to educate the administrators about how potentially they might be overstepping their boundaries. The Health Department would like to believe that it is only religious fanatics who will not vaccinate their children .

However, every religious tradition has their objections to vaccinations even if they are not consciously aware of them. Most of the legitimate religious objections have to do with the vaccine ingredients.

The vaccination letters attached address the exemption from a variety of religious points of view. The Health Department does not like to see form letters even though they are not legally allowed to pass judgment on your very personal religious beliefs. Consequently, most people use the short letter and add whatever appeals to them from the long letter including Bible quotes etc.

The long version (20 pages) complete with attachments makes an excellent pamphlet to carry with you to discuss the facts about vaccinations.