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 childrens 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. Hes not going to deny it.
A form must be filled out in order to get the exemption.
If they dont fill out the form, they dont get an exemption, McKinna said.
The exemption application must be accompanied by a signed physicians statement
saying that the immunization is not in the persons 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 This material may not be published,
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"A foolish faith in authority is the worst enemy of truth."
-- Albert Einstein, letter to a friend, 1901
"I know of no safe depository of the ultimate powers of the society but the people themselves, and if we think them not enlightened enough to exercise control with a wholesome discretion, the remedy is not to take it from them, but to inform their discretion by education."
-- Thomas Jefferson, letter to William C. Jarvis, September 28, 1820
"What's the point of vaccination if it doesn't protect you from the unvaccinated?"
-- Sandy Gottstein
"Who gets to decide what the greater good is and how many will be sacrificed to it?"