Sarah Bennett
In the United States, high childhood vaccination rates have successfully reduced the morbidity and mortality rates of vaccine-preventable diseases. All states have vaccination mandates for school entry, but there is heterogeneity in the allowance of non-medical exemptions. Non-medical exemptions are based on parental choice and are not deemed medically necessary. Connecticut has removed all non-medical vaccine exemptions for children in schools and daycares, including religious exemptions. This decision was made to protect children and prevent another outbreak of a vaccine-preventable disease.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Philosophical exemption from vaccinations | No |
| Religious exemption from vaccinations | Removed in 2021 |
| Non-medical exemptions | Removed for schools and daycares |
| Medical exemptions | Allowed |
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What You'll Learn
Connecticut removes non-medical vaccine exemptions
In the United States, high childhood vaccination rates have successfully reduced the number of deaths and illnesses caused by vaccine-preventable diseases. All states have vaccination mandates for school entry, but each state has its own rules about non-medical exemptions. Non-medical exemptions are based on parental choice and are not deemed medically necessary.
Connecticut has removed all non-medical vaccine exemptions for children in schools and daycare settings. This means that children in Connecticut must now be vaccinated to attend school or daycare, unless they have a medical exemption. The Connecticut House of Representatives advanced legislation to eliminate non-medical exemptions from school-entry immunizations, and the state legislature voted in favour of this. The decision was made after three years of debate and record-breaking hours of public testimony.
Connecticut joins five other states that only allow medical exemptions to school entry: California, Maine, Mississippi, New York, and West Virginia. These states removed non-medical exemptions after observing the positive effects of such policies in other states. For example, Mississippi has a high rate of children entering kindergarten with all required immunizations, and there has not been a documented case of measles there since 1992.
The removal of non-medical exemptions in Connecticut has been supported by the majority of parents in the state, with nearly 9 out of 10 believing that children should be required to receive vaccines for school entry. This decision will help to protect children who are unable to be vaccinated for medical reasons, as well as reducing the risk of vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks.
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Religious vaccination exemption eliminated
In June 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a challenge to a 2021 Connecticut law that eliminated the state's religious exemption from childhood immunization requirements for schools, colleges, and daycare facilities. The law, Connecticut Public Act No. 21-6, upheld by the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, removed the religious exemption to school vaccine requirements.
Connecticut law requires students to receive certain immunizations before enrolling in school, with some medical exemptions allowed. Prior to 2021, students could also seek religious exemptions. However, lawmakers decided to end religious exemptions due to concerns over an increase in exemption requests and a simultaneous decline in vaccination rates in some schools. This change allowed students in kindergarten through grade twelve who had already received religious exemptions to maintain their exemption.
The decision by the Supreme Court was met with disappointment by some, including the group We The Patriots USA Inc., a lead plaintiff in the case. They argued that Connecticut violated religious freedom protections and the First Amendment by removing the religious exemption. They also challenged the state's vaccine mandate on constitutional grounds, stating their intention to seek review of the decision in the United States Supreme Court.
Attorney General William Tong, on the other hand, applauded the Supreme Court's decision, stating that it affirmed the constitutionality and legality of Connecticut's vaccine requirements. He emphasized that vaccines save lives and that the legislature acted responsibly to protect the health of Connecticut families and stop the spread of preventable diseases.
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Philosophical belief exemptions
In the United States, high childhood vaccination rates have successfully reduced the morbidity and mortality rates caused by vaccine-preventable diseases. All states mandate that children be vaccinated before enrolling in schools, but some states allow non-medical exemptions based on religious or personal belief systems.
Connecticut is one of the states that previously allowed non-medical exemptions for school entry vaccination mandates. However, on April 28, 2021, Governor Lamont signed a repeal of Connecticut's school vaccine religious exemption law. This means that as of April 28, 2021, no new religious exemptions will be accepted, except for students who were already enrolled in school (K-12) and had a valid religious exemption before that date. This change was made to protect children and the community from vaccine-preventable diseases, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The decision was supported by the majority of Connecticut parents, with nearly 9 in 10 believing that children should be vaccinated for school entry.
While Connecticut has removed religious exemptions, it is not explicitly mentioned whether philosophical belief exemptions are still permitted. However, given that Connecticut has removed all non-medical exemptions for children in schools and daycares, it can be inferred that philosophical belief exemptions are also no longer accepted. This aligns with the state's commitment to protecting the health and safety of its residents, particularly the most vulnerable members of society, during a challenging time for public health.
It is worth noting that the removal of non-medical exemptions has been a subject of debate, with some activists arguing that it violates religious freedom and parental rights. However, the Supreme Court rejected a challenge to Connecticut's law, affirming the state's authority to protect the health of its citizens and prevent the spread of preventable diseases.
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Parental choice
In the United States, high childhood vaccination rates have successfully reduced the morbidity and mortality rates associated with vaccine-preventable diseases. This success is partly attributed to vaccination mandates for school entry. While all states have such mandates, there is variation in the allowance of non-medical exemptions (e.g. religious or personal belief exemptions).
Connecticut law previously allowed students to seek religious exemptions from vaccination requirements, but this was repealed in 2021. The Connecticut General Assembly passed Public Act 21-6, "An Act Concerning Immunizations," which eliminated the religious exemption. This law was upheld by the courts, which rejected claims that it violated students' and parents' right to privacy and medical freedom. The Supreme Court also rejected a challenge to this law in June 2024.
The elimination of the religious exemption in Connecticut was driven by concerns over declining vaccination rates and the potential for disease outbreaks, particularly measles. Opponents of the repeal argued that it violated religious freedom and medical freedom protections guaranteed under the First Amendment.
Non-medical exemptions, which are based on parental choice, have been considered ethically necessary to balance public health protection with parental rights. While Connecticut has removed religious exemptions, it continues to allow medical exemptions for students who present immunizations medically contraindicated.
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School entry requirements
Connecticut law requires students to receive certain immunizations before enrolling in school, allowing some medical exemptions. Prior to 2021, students could also seek religious exemptions. However, a new law was passed in April 2021 that ended the religious exemption for school vaccinations. This means that students must now provide proof of immunization against certain communicable diseases, such as diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles, mumps, rubella, and polio, in order to enroll in school.
The Connecticut General Assembly passed Public Act 21-6, entitled "An Act Concerning Immunizations," which eliminated the religious exemption for school vaccinations. The law was signed by Governor Ned Lamont on April 28, 2021, and faced opposition from religious groups and parents who argued that it violated their religious freedom and medical freedom rights. The law was upheld by the courts, which rejected the claims of discrimination and found that there is no overriding privacy right to decline vaccination.
The change allowed current students in K-12 who already had a religious exemption to keep it. This led to concerns about an uptick in exemption requests and a decline in vaccination rates in some schools. However, the Democratic Attorney General William Tong defended the law, stating that it was "lifesaving and fully lawful."
In the United States, school vaccination requirements vary by state, and each state has its own mandates and allowances for medical and non-medical exemptions. Non-medical exemptions are based on parental choice and are not deemed medically necessary. While some states have allowed religious and personal belief exemptions, others like Mississippi and West Virginia have not permitted non-medical exemptions for school-entry vaccination mandates.
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Frequently asked questions
No. As of April 28, 2021, Connecticut no longer allows a religious exemption from childhood immunization requirements for schools, colleges, and daycare facilities.
The Connecticut General Assembly passed Public Act 21-6, "An Act Concerning Immunizations," to eliminate the religious exemption and protect the health of Connecticut families, as well as to stop the spread of preventable diseases.
Opponents of the bill to repeal Connecticut's religious exemption for school vaccinations gathered outside the State Capitol in April 2021, arguing that the new law violated religious freedom protections. The Supreme Court rejected the challenge to the law, upholding its "rationality."
