California Vaccine Exemptions
The State of California requires, absent an exemption, that all enrolled Kindergarten through the twelfth grade students in both public schools and private schools obtain the following vaccinations:
- Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis (TDAP);
- Polio (OPV or IPV);
- Hepatitis B;
- Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR); and
- Varicella (Chickenpox)
Homeschooled students do not have to meet any of the immunization requirements. If your child attends a home-based private school or an independent study program and does not receive classroom-based instruction, she/he does not need to be immunized.
Exemptions to the Immunization Requirements in California
California, currently, has 2 exemptions to the immunization requirement, a medical exemption and a special education/IEP exemption.
As of 2021 The California Iimmunization Registry (CAIR2) was instituted to place a step between your doctor and your school registration of unvaccinated students. Parents can create an account in CAIR-ME and apply for an exemption. They will receive an exemption application number for their child’s physician. The physician can register for an account on CAIR-ME and log in to issue the medical exemption. when the exemption is issued, the physician prints the required form and provides a copy to the parents to give to their child’s school.
It is unfortunate and likely by design that the new registry system has led to greater hesitancy by doctors to file exemptions because the doctor is tracked automaticaly by the California Department of Public Health. Doctors that have been considered to liberal with producing vaccine exemptions have faced license suspension or revocation.
Under Federal law, students with disabilities are entitled to be placed on Individualized Education Programs (IEP) and receive special education services. Failure to vaccinate cannot prohibit students with disabilities from accessing those services. As such, students with IEPs may access any special education and related services deemed necessary by the IEP without proof of immunization. Access may include in-person teaching, counseling, therapy, or other activities or services that require in-person delivery.
Attorney Richard Jaffe keeps an up-to-date blog of court actions that threaten physician speech and ablity to practice medicine without state interference.