In some places, proof of vaccination is required for all children entering the public school system.
Your employer may also require you to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or influenza.
There is a lot of confusioneven among doctorsabout whether certain vaccines arerecommendedormandated.
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So it’s not unfair to question if your child should get every vaccine theirpediatriciansays they should.
This article takes a closer look at vaccine mandates and why they vary depending on where you live.
It includes a few reasons why people choose to opt out of vaccines.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
It also dispels a few myths that stop people from getting them.
Are Vaccines Required in Schools?
These include:
The federal government does not mandate vaccinations.
Can Vaccines Be Required by Employers?
In some states, employers are prohibited from mandating vaccinations.
In others, employers can require vaccinations, with certain limitations.
In early 2023, that requirement was rescinded, along with the vaccine mandate for its civilian employees.
Who Sets Vaccine Recommendations?
The ACIP panel is comprised of experts in medical and public health fields.
Doctors, researchers, infectious disease specialists, and community representatives are all part of the panel.
The schedule’s purpose is to provide people with the maximum protection from vaccine-preventable diseases as safely as possible.
The schedule is organized according to the age ranges in which the recommended vaccinations should be given.
Currently, there are 17 vaccines recommended by the ACIP, scheduled from birth through the age of 18.
This schedule is updated every year to ensure that it is always based on the most up-to-date research.
None of these issues should be minimized.
Parents and public opinion also play a role.
The reality is far less dramatic.Vaccine requirementsdon’t mean kids are being forced to be vaccinated.
In every state, children who shouldn’t receive vaccines for medical reasonssuch asorgan transplantsorsevere allergiescan receive medical exemptions.
Opting out for non-medical beliefs may be more difficult.
Where non-medical exemptions are allowed, the process for obtaining one may be as simple as signing a form.
Are Current Mandates Enough?
This is why the CDC recommends vaccines against all four of these diseases for adolescents 11 to 12.
They are each considered equally important in the eyes of the ACIP but are rarely required by schools.
That is not to say that all vaccines are equally important.
A Word From Verywell
It is important to note that school-mandated vaccine requirements areminimumstandards.
By contrast, getting only what is mandated may leave you vulnerable to preventableand potentially seriousinfections.
Get our printable guide for your next doctor’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes.
States can add COVID-19 to the list of vaccinations required for children who attend public schools.
There are no national vaccine mandates.
Exemptions are available for specific situations.
For schools, exemptions are determined by state or local laws.
Work-related vaccine requirements must adhere to other legal regulations including those established by the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.School vaccination requirements and exemptions.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Requirement for proof of COVID-19 vaccination for air passengers.
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.Health Information for Travelers.
U.S. Department of Defense.DOD Rescinds COVID-19 Vaccination Mandate.
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.Vaccines for Military Members.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Immunization schedules.
WBEN News.Protesters oppose potential HPV vaccine mandate.
National Conference of State Legislatures.States with religious and philosophical exemptions from school immunization requirements.
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Centers for Disease Control.Disease Burden of Flu.
Centers for Disease Control.Cancers due to HPV.
National Conference of State Legislatures.States With Religious and Philosophical Exemptions From School Immunization.
