The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) today called for an end to religious and philosophical vaccine exemptions for children attending daycare and school in the U.S.
In an updated policy statement published in Pediatrics, the AAP said universal immunization is necessary to keep children and employees safe. The organization said there is a place for “legitimate” medical exemptions, but nonmedical exemptions are “problematic.”
“We recommend that vaccination is required for participation in certain public activities, such as school and daycare, and if you choose not to vaccinate, you’re essentially choosing to exclude yourself from those settings,” lead author Dr. Jesse Hackell told MedPage Today.
He added:
“We recognize that excluding a child from public education does have problems, and yet, we reach the conclusion that, on balance, assuring the safety of the school and daycare environment outweighs that risk because there are other educational opportunities available.”
According to the AAP statement, all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico require proof of immunization to attend daycare and school, and all of them grant medical exemptions. However, 45 of those also have religious exemptions, and 15 allow personal belief, philosophical or conscientious objection exemptions.
