Abstract

2][3][4][5] All states and the District of Columbia require children entering school to provide documentation that they have met the state vaccine requirements.As of March 2006, all states permitted medical exemptions to school and daycare immunization requirements; 48 states allowed religious exemptions; and 19 states had a provision for personal belief exemptions. 6Personal belief exemptions include religious, philosophical, and any other unspecified nonmedical exemption.Two states, Arkansas and Texas, added a personal belief exemption in the 2003-2004 school year.Some states make exemptions widely available to parents either by offering a personal belief exemption rather than only a religious exemption or by easily permitting exemptions. 7For example, California offers a personal belief exemption whereby the parent simply signs