Ohio is one of 47 states to have a religious and reasons of conscience exemption to mandatory child immunization. It is those exemptions that led to outbreaks like the measles outbreak last year that reached 21 states including Ohio. The Secular Coalition for America is starting a new campaign to ‘Put Kids First’ by asking state legislatures to repeal non-medical exemptions to immunizations.
(4) A pupil who presents a written statement of the pupil’s parent or guardian in which the parent or guardian declines to have the pupil immunized for reasons of conscience, including religious convictions, is not required to be immunized.
When it comes to health and safety, we should always put kids first. Unfortunately, in 47 states and the District of Columbia, nonmedical vaccine exemptions are putting your children and community at great risk for deadly, contagious diseases.
47 states and the District of Columbia have religious and/or personal belief exemptions for vaccine requirements, putting vulnerable children who cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons at risk.
Children who cannot be vaccinated because they are too young or have certain medical conditions depend on the immunity of their peers and surrounding community to protect them. That’s why mandatory vaccine laws seek to make as many people immune to these diseases as possible. As misinformation and fears surrounding vaccines have spread, the number of people abusing nonmedical vaccine loopholes has increased in recent years. This has tragically resulted in outbreaks of dangerous diseases like measles that previously were almost entirely eradicated thanks to vaccines.
The evidence is clear: vaccines save lives. Laws intended to protect the most vulnerable members of our community, especially children, should put safety before personal beliefs. No harm, no exceptions. It’s time to put kids first.
It is time to end exemptions that are based only on religious beliefs and also used by those who decline based on something they read on the Internet.
Check out the campaign page, find your state, and help repeal these non-medical exemptions that harm our children.