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Two States Propose New Limits On Religious Exemptions To Immunization Requirements

By Howard M. Friedman

Natural News today reports on proposed legislation in Washington state and New Jersey that would place new limits on religious exemptions from mandatory vaccination requirements.Washington SB 5005 would require that applications for religious, philosophical or medical exemptions include a statement by a health care practitioner that the parent or guardian has been informed of the benefits and risks of immunization to the child.  New Jersey's ACR 157 is a resolution reviewing recently adopted state administrative rules on immunizations finding that they violate legislative intent.  The resolution calls for the Commissioner of Health and Senior Services to withdraw the regulations or amend them to require parents applying for a religious exemption to furnish a written statement explaining how the administration of the vaccine conflicts with the bona fide religious tenets or practices of the student or the parents or guardians. The Natural News article discusses potential 1st Amendment challenges to the proposed new restrictions on exemptions.

Full post as published by Religion Clause on February 22, 2011 (boomark / email).