![]() In addition to public schools, these regulations apply to private schools, including parochial schools, pre-schools, day cares and all physicians throughout New York State. 3 Parents must still ensure students of a compulsory age receive schooling, and so must homeschool their children subject to an approved home schooling plan if they do not meet the vaccination requirements within the 14 day grace period. ![]() The New York State Department of Education, the Department of Health and the Office of Children and Family Services demonstrated that they are serious about enforcing the religious and medical exemption rules by issuing guidance on August 20, 2019, clarifying that any student who is unvaccinated and does not have a valid medical exemption may not attend school. Any medical exemption that is given must be reissued annually. A principal or school leader may also require additional information supporting the exemption. Secondly, a medical exemption form approved by the New York State Department of Health or New York City Department of Education, must be signed and completed by a physician licensed to practice medicine in the State of New York. The determination that a vaccination is detrimental to a child’s health must be consistent with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice’s guidance or a nationally recognized evidentiary based standard of care. The regulations specify that “may be detrimental to the child’s health” means that a physician has determined a child has a medical contraindication or precaution to a specific immunization. First, within 14 days of an in-person clinical interaction that occurs on what would have been the due date for the administration of the student’s age-appropriate immunization, the physician must submit patient information, including the reason the immunization may be detrimental to the student’s health, to the statewide Immunization Information System. Specifically, in order for a student to qualify for a medical exemption, a provider must submit two forms. A written statement by a physician will no longer suffice government approved forms must be filled out and appropriately submitted. ![]() 2 The regulations only allow for a medical exemption if a specific immunization has been determined by a physician to be detrimental to a student’s health. The emergency regulations issued by the Department of Health on August 16, 2019, which went into immediate effect, require a separate medical exemption for each specific vaccination. Previously, physicians in New York only needed to submit a signed written statement for a student to qualify for a medical exemption. New York State is seeking to avoid medical exemptions being issued unjustifiably, while ensuring students who truly need such exemptions can obtain them, by providing clear, narrow requirements for what constitutes a medical exemption. 1 In California, when the religious exemption to vaccinations was repealed, no change was made to the medical exemption requirements and, quite possibly as a result, the number of students seeking medical exemptions more than tripled. However, in June 2019, the religious exemption was repealed. ![]() It is important that school leaders are aware of these standards when presented with medical exemptions to vaccinations in order to comply with the law, while still meeting the needs of all students.įor more than 50 years, New York State permitted parents to obtain an exemption from vaccinations based on either medical or religious considerations. However, the Department of Health recently promulgated new emergency regulations that heighten the standard for what is required in order for a student to receive a medical exemption. Since the repeal of the religious exemption to vaccinations on June 13, 2019, many school districts are reporting an increase in the requests for medical exemptions. New York State Tightens Requirements for Medical Exemptions to Vaccinations New York State Tightens Requirements for Medical Exemptions to Vaccinations. ![]()
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