Vaccine Exemptions for School
According to current Kansas law (K.S.A. 72-6262), children attending school, a daycare operated by a school, or a preschool operated by a school are required to be immunized according to the Secretary of Health & Environment's recommendations unless either:
1. The parent obtains certification from a doctor stating that the child's life or health would be endangered due to that child's physical condition, or
2. The parent or guardian of the child is an adherent of a religious denomination whose teachings are opposed to immunizations.
You can download these documents to use as a guide for obtaining an exemption:
This document must be signed by a medical doctor (MD) or osteopathic doctor (DO). Download here.
We recommend using the exact wording from this document. The statute does not require any information beyond a simple statement, nor does it require a signature from a religious leader. Moreover, there is no explicit provision in the statute for school authorities to challenge the validity of the statement, so elaboration on one’s religious views is unnecessary. In this situation, silence is golden. Download here.
In addition to an exemption, consider using this template to write your own letter opposing childhood vaccination to your child’s preschool. Note that there is some grey area within some Kansas statutes that might allow for vaccination of your child without your express consent, so make sure this letter is on file everywhere your child attends without your supervision.
FAQs
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Your family’s religious belief may be non-denominational, which means you don't belong to a particular brand of religion or church. This does not preclude you from claiming a religious exemption.
The religious exemption requires only the submission of a “statement” from the parent or guardian stating that their child is an adherent of a religious denomination whose teachings are opposed to vaccinations. While some view this language as requiring an examination of the vaccine policies of a particular church, another interpretation is that the “teachings” referred to in the statute refer to the Bible, which contains numerous scriptures justifying opposition to vaccinations. The latter view supports religious freedom.
No one has the right to tell you what your religious beliefs are, and no one has the right to question the sincerity of your own personal beliefs. We recommend that you use the exact wording provided in the religious exemption document. There's no requirement to explain your religious beliefs.
If your religious exemption is denied, please contact us. KSHF may be able to provide legal assistance.
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Kansas laws (K.S.A. 65-128; K.S.A. 65-129c) and regulations allow for the isolation and/or quarantine of "susceptible" individuals. In the event of an exposure or outbreak, local health departments follow guidance from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) in issuing isolation/quarantine orders. In school settings, this can result in an unvaccinated child being excluded from attendance in the event of an exposure or outbreak, even if a valid exemption has been submitted. A recent legal challenge involving a Kansas school district and local health departments has raised questions about how these policies are applied in practice. If your child is excluded from school following an exposure, we encourage you to contact us for guidance.
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If your religious exemption is denied, please contact us. KSHF may be able to provide legal assistance.
KANSANS FOR HEALTH FREEDOM, INC. provides information on this site for general informational purposes only and the information is not intended to be and does not constitute legal or medical advice. Anyone relying upon this information is advised to use their own judgment including consultation with their own physician, attorney, or other professionals before taking action based upon any information contained on this website.