States With Religious and Philosophical Exemptions From School Immunization Requirements

All 50 states have legislation requiring specified vaccines for students.  Although exemptions vary from state to state, all school immunization laws grant exemptions to children for medical reasons. Almost all states grant religious exemptions for people who have religious beliefs against immunizations. Currently, 17 states allow philosophical exemptions for those who object to immunizations because of personal, moral or other beliefs.

Source: Adapted from the LexisNexis StateNet Database and the Immunization Action Coalition, Feb. 2018.
* The existing statute in Minnesota and Louisiana does not explicitly recognize religion as a reason for claiming an exemption, however, as a practical matter, the non-medical exemption may encompass religious beliefs.
**In Virginia, parents can receive a personal exemption only for the HPV vaccine.
***Missouri’s personal belief exemption does not apply to public schools, only child care facilities.