< Back to front page Text size – +

Opting out of vaccinations: Did you opt out of vaccinating your child?

Print | Comments () Posted by Kristi Palma September 11, 2012 10:36 AM

Tweet
E-mail

More parents in private schools in California are not vaccinating their kids, according to the Associated Press.

In California, parents can opt out because of either religious beliefs or philosophical beliefs. Here in Massachusetts, parents can opt out because of religious beliefs.

Public health officials cited in the AP report say the trend can cause "an increased risk of an outbreak of whooping cough or other communicable diseases."

Almost all states (except West Virginia and Mississippi) allow parents to opt out of vaccinating their children based on religious beliefs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).

However, less than half of our nation's states allow parents to refuse vaccinations based on philosophical beliefs (only Vermont and Maine allow it in New England). Maine allows exemptions, reports the NCSL, based on "moral, philosophical or other personal beliefs."

Did you opt out of vaccinations for your child based on religious beliefs? Do you think Massachusetts should allow exemptions based on philosophical beliefs?

Tweet
E-mail

About Parent Buzz

Welcome to Parent Buzz, where you can read about and discuss the hot parenting issues of the day, find family-friendly events in Boston and beyond, and get parenting tidbits and tips.

Browse this blog

by category

Contributors

Kristi Palma, Boston.com Moms producer, is the mom of a kindergartner and a preschooler. She is a writer who enjoys cooking her grandmother's Italian recipes (when her son isn't launching paper airplanes into them). Follow her on Twitter @kristipalma.

Jennifer Clark Estes is a teacher, writer, blogger, and the mother of four young children. In her free time, she blogs at A Mom's World, plays with the kids (or chauffeurs them around), and is desperately seeking a quiet spot so she can read a book. Follow her on Twitter @JenniferCEstes.