I received a letter from my son’s school today saying that if he doesn’t get his Tdap vaccine, he can’t go to school. I saw that medical exemptions are allowed, but what exactly qualifies for that? And what about religious exemptions—are those still allowed?
In New York, medical exemptions are allowed if your doctor writes a letter explaining why the vaccine isn’t safe for your kid. But religious exemptions are no longer allowed for public schools here, unfortunately.
@Eli
Wait, so religious exemptions don’t exist anymore? That’s kinda crazy…
Caden said:
@Eli
Wait, so religious exemptions don’t exist anymore? That’s kinda crazy…
Yeah, they took those out a while ago. If you want an exemption, it’ll have to be medical. If not, you have to follow the vaccine rules or look for other school options.
If you’re asking about medical exemptions, it’s pretty simple. You need a letter from your doctor explaining why the vaccine isn’t safe for your child’s health. But you can’t just get a note from anyone, it has to be a licensed physician.
@Zander
Can an optometrist provide that letter, or does it have to be from my child’s doctor?
Van said:
@Zander
Can an optometrist provide that letter, or does it have to be from my child’s doctor?
It needs to be from a licensed physician. So, an optometrist wouldn’t qualify unless they’re also a medical doctor. You’ll need to talk to your primary care physician or a specialist in your child’s condition.
I had a similar issue with my kid’s health. You should talk to your doctor about your son’s specific condition. If there’s a valid medical reason, the doctor can write the exemption letter for you.
Zyan said:
I had a similar issue with my kid’s health. You should talk to your doctor about your son’s specific condition. If there’s a valid medical reason, the doctor can write the exemption letter for you.
My kid also has a condition that could make the vaccine risky. I’m thinking of talking to the doctor soon. Do you think that would work?
@Wyatt
Definitely. If your doctor can explain how the vaccine could affect your child’s health, they should be able to help with the exemption. Don’t worry, it’s worth discussing!
One thing to note is that the letter needs to be very clear about the medical reason for the exemption. If it’s too vague, the school might reject it, so make sure the doctor’s letter is detailed.
Caden said:
One thing to note is that the letter needs to be very clear about the medical reason for the exemption. If it’s too vague, the school might reject it, so make sure the doctor’s letter is detailed.
Good point! I’ll make sure the letter is thorough. Thanks for the advice!
This whole situation is so stressful. Has anyone looked into private schools or homeschooling to avoid this whole vaccine issue? Just curious if it’s even worth considering.
Shiloh said:
This whole situation is so stressful. Has anyone looked into private schools or homeschooling to avoid this whole vaccine issue? Just curious if it’s even worth considering.
Private schools might be an option, but make sure to check their vaccination policies first. Some private schools still follow the same vaccine rules, so don’t assume it’s any different.