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Subcommittee forwards revised student immunization-exemption language to full committee
Summary
The Policy Subcommittee approved a first reading of revised policy JLCB to clarify immunization exemptions and standardize the exemption form; the revision specifies that only medical and religious exemptions are accepted and requires annual resubmission.
The Policy Subcommittee held a first reading and voted to forward revised language for policy JLCB (student immunizations) to the full school committee. The revision stems from concerns raised by the district director of health that parents were submitting a variety of letters and documents to seek exemptions, which created administrative burdens for nurses and inconsistent records.
The draft language the subcommittee reviewed, supplied by Katherine Hampson, director of health, clarifies that the only exemptions recognized are medical exemptions and religious exemptions. The medical exemption requires a written statement from a physician that an immunization would not be in the child’s best interest. A religious exemption must be submitted on a district immunization-vaccination exemption form, which “can be obtained from the school nurse,” and that form must be completed, signed by a parent or guardian and resubmitted annually prior to the start of each school year.
Subcommittee members directed staff to bring the JLCB language forward to the full school committee for a first reading vote. The subcommittee also asked that the updated form and annual-resubmission requirement be communicated to school nurses and parents to reduce ad-hoc correspondence and ensure consistent recordkeeping.
No changes to the medical-exemption standard were proposed in the discussion; the committee said it will move the policy forward and, if necessary, route the language to counsel for review before final adoption by the full committee.
