Guidelines Applicable to Medical and Religious Immunization Exemptions
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has developed these guidelines to help school administrators determine whether a request for an immunization exemption should be allowed and when a medical objection should be referred to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).
Medical Exemptions
There are two avenues by which a physician may exempt a child from a required immunization. One is a physician statement of immunity and the other is a medical objection (see IDPH rules, 77 Illinois Administrative Code 665.280 and 665.520). A physician statement of immunity or medical objection must be signed by a physician and attached to the student’s “Certificate of Child Health Examination” form.
1. Physician Statement of Immunity (77 IAC 665.280
A copy of all physician statements of immunity should be forwarded to the appropriate regional IDPH Immunization Program Representative, except when a previous statement addressing the same circumstance has been reviewed by IDPH and deemed acceptable. If the circumstance of a physician statement of immunity has not been previously reviewed and deemed acceptable, the student should be counted as “unprotected but in compliance” until such time as the student’s school receives a letter from the IDPH Immunization Program Representative stating that the exemption is accepted. If accepted, the IDPH approval letter should be attached to the student’s “Certificate of Child Health Examination” form and the student’s status should be considered “protected and in compliance.” If the statement is not approved, the school should forward a copy of the statement to the student’s parent(s), informing them that the required immunization(s) must be given and the student is currently considered “unprotected and in noncompliance.”
2. Medical Objection (77 IAC 665.520)
Medical objection statements from physicians which indicate an immunization is medically contraindicated are acceptable and should be attached to the student’s “Certificate of Child Health Examination” form. A copy of any medical objection statement that does not specifically state that an immunization is medically contraindicated should be forwarded to the IDPH Immunization Program Representative for review. Statements from physicians indicating a specific medical condition that predisposes a student to a potential health risk if vaccinated should also be forwarded to the IDPH Immunization Program Representative for review. If approved, the school should attach the letter of approval from IDPH to the student’s “Certificate of Child Health Examination” form. If the statement is not approved, a copy of the IDPH letter should be forwarded to the student’s parent(s), informing them that the required immunization(s) must be given.
Religious Exemptions to Immunizations and Examinations
Public Act 99-024, effective Aug. 3, 2015, adds to the religious exemption requirements for immunizations and health examinations. The new law is effective for the 2015-2016 school year and states that parents or legal guardians who object, for religious reasons, to immunizations or health examinations for their child for school entry must now have a Certificate of Religious Exemption that is signed by a health care provider. The signed certificate verifies that the health care provider counseled the parents or guardians on the benefits of immunizations and the health risks of not vaccinating students.
Educational information given by health care providers may include nationally accepted recommendations from federal agencies such as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, information from vaccine information statements, and vaccine package inserts.
The certificate also reflects the parents’ or legal guardians’ understanding that their child may be excluded from school in the case of a vaccine-preventable disease outbreak or exposure.
State law requires that parents or guardians must provide evidence of completing the required physical examination and vaccinations by Oct. 15 or an earlier date, if so established by local school board policy or if the student is suspended from school until the exams or vaccinations are received. Therefore, the new Certificate of Religious Exemption form requirement will be enforced with physicals and shot records submitted to schools beginning Oct. 16, 2015. This effective date takes into account that most parents have already completed their child’s physical exam/immunization requirements or submitted their religious objection letter for the 2015-16 school year and therefore, will not have to return to their physician to fill out the form for the Oct. 15 deadline. From Oct. 16 on, any students who enroll after Oct. 15 or who have not yet provided proof of immunization must provide a Certificate of Religious Exemption form if their parents have religious objections to vaccinations and/or health examinations.
The Certificate of Religious Exemption form is available on ISBE’s website at:
ILLINOIS CERTIFICATE OF RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION TO IMMUNIZATIONS AND/OR EXAMINATIONS FORM
The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has developed these guidelines to help school administrators determine whether a request for an immunization exemption should be allowed and when a medical objection should be referred to the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).
Medical Exemptions
There are two avenues by which a physician may exempt a child from a required immunization. One is a physician statement of immunity and the other is a medical objection (see IDPH rules, 77 Illinois Administrative Code 665.280 and 665.520). A physician statement of immunity or medical objection must be signed by a physician and attached to the student’s “Certificate of Child Health Examination” form.
1. Physician Statement of Immunity (77 IAC 665.280
A copy of all physician statements of immunity should be forwarded to the appropriate regional IDPH Immunization Program Representative, except when a previous statement addressing the same circumstance has been reviewed by IDPH and deemed acceptable. If the circumstance of a physician statement of immunity has not been previously reviewed and deemed acceptable, the student should be counted as “unprotected but in compliance” until such time as the student’s school receives a letter from the IDPH Immunization Program Representative stating that the exemption is accepted. If accepted, the IDPH approval letter should be attached to the student’s “Certificate of Child Health Examination” form and the student’s status should be considered “protected and in compliance.” If the statement is not approved, the school should forward a copy of the statement to the student’s parent(s), informing them that the required immunization(s) must be given and the student is currently considered “unprotected and in noncompliance.”
2. Medical Objection (77 IAC 665.520)
Medical objection statements from physicians which indicate an immunization is medically contraindicated are acceptable and should be attached to the student’s “Certificate of Child Health Examination” form. A copy of any medical objection statement that does not specifically state that an immunization is medically contraindicated should be forwarded to the IDPH Immunization Program Representative for review. Statements from physicians indicating a specific medical condition that predisposes a student to a potential health risk if vaccinated should also be forwarded to the IDPH Immunization Program Representative for review. If approved, the school should attach the letter of approval from IDPH to the student’s “Certificate of Child Health Examination” form. If the statement is not approved, a copy of the IDPH letter should be forwarded to the student’s parent(s), informing them that the required immunization(s) must be given.
Religious Exemptions to Immunizations and Examinations
Public Act 99-024, effective Aug. 3, 2015, adds to the religious exemption requirements for immunizations and health examinations. The new law is effective for the 2015-2016 school year and states that parents or legal guardians who object, for religious reasons, to immunizations or health examinations for their child for school entry must now have a Certificate of Religious Exemption that is signed by a health care provider. The signed certificate verifies that the health care provider counseled the parents or guardians on the benefits of immunizations and the health risks of not vaccinating students.
Educational information given by health care providers may include nationally accepted recommendations from federal agencies such as the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, information from vaccine information statements, and vaccine package inserts.
The certificate also reflects the parents’ or legal guardians’ understanding that their child may be excluded from school in the case of a vaccine-preventable disease outbreak or exposure.
State law requires that parents or guardians must provide evidence of completing the required physical examination and vaccinations by Oct. 15 or an earlier date, if so established by local school board policy or if the student is suspended from school until the exams or vaccinations are received. Therefore, the new Certificate of Religious Exemption form requirement will be enforced with physicals and shot records submitted to schools beginning Oct. 16, 2015. This effective date takes into account that most parents have already completed their child’s physical exam/immunization requirements or submitted their religious objection letter for the 2015-16 school year and therefore, will not have to return to their physician to fill out the form for the Oct. 15 deadline. From Oct. 16 on, any students who enroll after Oct. 15 or who have not yet provided proof of immunization must provide a Certificate of Religious Exemption form if their parents have religious objections to vaccinations and/or health examinations.
The Certificate of Religious Exemption form is available on ISBE’s website at:
ILLINOIS CERTIFICATE OF RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION TO IMMUNIZATIONS AND/OR EXAMINATIONS FORM