It is law in all US states that children be properly immunized before attending school. However, in addition to medical exemptions offered in each state, 48 states allow for religious exemptions and 17 states allow philosophic or personal exemptions.
Mandatory Immunization Laws and the Role of Medical, Religious and Philosophical Exemptions, Daniel A. Salmon [August 2002]
McCarthy v Boozman, 2002 Ruling by Arkansas District Court that religious exemptions are unconstitutional.
Letter to Fay Boozman suggesting that it should not be easier to obtain philosophical exemption than comply with vaccination by Daniel Salmon, Neal Halsey, Andrew Siegel, and Eugene Gangarosa.
Exemptions by State:
religious exemptions: All but Arkansas, Mississippi and West Virginia
philosophic exemptions: California, Colorado, Idaho, Louisiana, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin
updated 10.17.07
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.