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Immunization rules debated
Associated Press
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) – The state Department of Health has written new rules making it easier for parents to have their children exempted from state-required immunization shots.

On Tuesday, the proposed rules went through a statewide public hearing conducted by video conference.

A year ago, the Wyoming Supreme Court struck down a religious sincerity test for children’s immunizations, prompting the state to come up with the new rules.

The religious sincerity test had been aimed at people seeking exemptions from immunization for religious reasons.

That test is gone, said Jim McKinna, immunization coordinator for the department.

“If a person requests an exemption, the state health officer grants it,” McKinna said. “He’s not going to deny it.”

A form must be filled out in order to get the exemption.

“If they don’t fill out the form, they don’t get an exemption,” McKinna said.

The exemption application must be accompanied by a signed physician’s statement saying that the immunization is not in the person’s best health interests, said Dr. Brent Sherard, the state health officer.

But Bernard Du Monthier, of Cody, said he objected to requiring a notary to sign the exemption application.

“This screams of discrimination to me,” Du Monthier said.

The state granted 378 exemptions in 2000, McKinna said.

There are 89,000 public school children in the state and an unknown number of private school children, making the exemption rate below 0.4 percent, McKinna said.

In Wyoming, 80 percent of 2-year-olds are immunized. The percentage increases as children get older, McKinna said.

Copyright 2001 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


Updated: Thu Nov 15 01:44:13 CST 2001 Central Time
Copyright © The Billings Gazette, a division of Lee Enterprises.

ALL INFORMATION, DATA, AND MATERIAL CONTAINED, PRESENTED, OR PROVIDED HERE IS FOR GENERAL INFORMATION PURPOSES ONLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED AS REFLECTING THE KNOWLEDGE OR OPINIONS OF THE PUBLISHER, AND IS NOT TO BE CONSTRUED OR INTENDED AS PROVIDING MEDICAL OR LEGAL ADVICE.  THE DECISION WHETHER OR NOT TO VACCINATE IS AN IMPORTANT AND COMPLEX ISSUE AND SHOULD BE MADE BY YOU, AND YOU ALONE, IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER.