Why do some people think that hundreds of medically vulnerable children were expelled from school in New York?
The usual suspects…
Were Hundreds of Medically Vulnerable Children Expelled from School in New York?
So what’s the real story?
A new vaccine law in New York eliminated religious exemptions so that students with non-medical exemptions would not be able to continue to go to school if they were missing one or more vaccines.
As the law continues to allow medical exemptions, it should be clear that as others got caught up on their immunizations, this helps make sure that those who are truly vulnerable are now at less risk of being exposed to a vaccine-preventable disease.
“If a child has a medical exemption to immunization, a physician licensed to practice medicine in New York State must certify that the immunization is detrimental to the child’s health. The medical exemption should specify which immunization is detrimental to the child’s health, provide information as to why the immunization is contraindicated based on current accepted medical practice, and specify the length of time the immunization is medically contraindicated, if known.”
Dear Colleague letter regarding guidelines for use of immunization exemptions
And those kids who do not have a valid medical exemption?
It is very important to understand that their parents have a choice to get them vaccinated and protected so that they can continue go to school.
Unfortunately, some parents and even a few doctors remain confused on what it means to have a valid medical exemption.
Especially in states that have strengthened their vaccine laws, a valid medical exemption must meet certain criteria and follow “current accepted medical practice standards as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.”
That doesn’t mean there can’t be exceptions, but it also doesn’t mean that a child would typically get a medical exemption for any reason simply because someone thinks they should, even if that someone is a doctor, unless the exemption is for an immunization that is “contraindicated based on current accepted medical practice.”
Were hundreds of kids in New York denied medical exemptions?
It is certainly possible when you hear parents tell stories about being denied exemptions for things like autism, ADHD, food allergies, epilepsy, clotting disorders, diabetes, psoriasis, autoimmune disorders, PANDAS, Tourette’s, or MTHFR gene mutations.
Were hundreds of kids in New York denied valid medical exemptions?
No, they weren’t.
More on New York Vaccine Laws
- Did New York’s New Vaccine Law Kick 26,000 Students Out of School?
- What Is Standard of Care?
- About That Chickenpox Outbreak in New York
- Did Police Block an Unvaccinated Girl from Getting Into School?
- Will a NY Law Make the HPV Vaccine Mandatory for Daycare?
- About That Amish Vaccine Exemption Lawsuit in New York
- Are the Measles Outbreaks in New York a Hoax?
- Why Are You Still Worried About the MMR Vaccine?
- Abuse of Vaccine Exemptions
- Responses to New Vaccine Laws
- A Slice of Pie: MMR Edition
- Dear Colleague letter regarding guidelines for use of immunization exemptions
- NY Statement on Legislation Removing Non-Medical Exemption from School Vaccination Requirements
- NY School Survey Instruction Booklet Questions and Answers
- NY School Immunization Survey District Level Map: 2018-2019 School Year
- How Far Would You Go to Avoid Vaccinating Your Child?
- Editorial: For the public’s health
- More than 200 kids in Tompkins impacted by New York’s vaccine requirement change
- Contrary to advice from an antivaxxer, claiming a history of anaphylaxis after vaccination will not guarantee a medical exemption
- New York issues emergency rules targeting abuse of medical exemptions for student vaccines
Last Updated on January 8, 2020
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