Anyone who registers a child in our public school system
is asked to bring a copy of their child's immunization
record. If you are among the thousands of parents across
Idaho that will be registering a child for school this fall,
you should know that Idaho Statutes give parents the
option to claim one of three exemptions, allowing children
to attend school without the CDC recommended vaccines.
Idaho Statute 39-4801 requires that parents present school
officials with "a statement to the school authorities
regarding the child's immunity to certain childhood
diseases. This statement shall provide a certificate signed
by a physician or his representative, that such child has
received, or is in the process of receiving immunizations as
required by the board of health and welfare, or can
effectively demonstrate, through verification in a form
approved by the department of health and welfare,
immunity gained through prior contraction of a disease."
Idaho Statute 39-4802 states "Any minor child whose
parent or guardian has submitted a signed statement to
school officials stating their objections on religious or
other ground shall be exempt from the provisions of this
chapter." A signed statement stating your objection to any
one or all of the required vaccines for any reason must be
accepted by school officials in lieu of your child's
immunization records.
The recently added Idaho Statute 39-4804 states that
"Before an immunization is administered to any child in
this state, the parent or guardian of the child shall be
notified that 1) Immunizations are not mandatory and may
be refused on religious or other grounds; 2) Participation in
the immunization registry is voluntary; 3) The parent or
guardian is entitled to an accurate explanation of the
complications known to follow such immunizations."
More shots are added each year to an ever expanding list of
vaccines being required, not by your doctor but by the
school district and state. As questions of vaccine safety and
conflicts of interest are being debated in congressional hearings,
hundreds of parents tell stories of being denied
compensation for vaccine injuries by the Vaccine Injury Compensation Program.
As autism and learning
disabilities such as ADHD are increasing at an alarming
rate, so too are the reports of changes in children's personalities
soon after receiving a triple antigen vaccine such
as the MMR or DTaP. As a result, more and more
parents have decided for themselves that the risk of some
childhood diseases is less than the risk of the numerous
vaccines now mandated. It is important to remember
that parents are responsible for the healthcare of their children
and must have the choice whether to vaccinate or not.