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Recommendations for the use of vaccinations come from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, a committee within the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Every year the ACIP meets and updates their recommendations. The CDC schedule of vaccines is based on these recommendations.
New Jersey mandates a certain number of these vaccinations for daycare and school children. The daycare and preschool mandates are linked here and the mandates for school aged children are linked here. It is important to realize that not everything recommended by the CDC is mandated at the state level.
NOTE: New Jersey is one of only 4 states that mandates the flu shot for daycare and preschool (up to 59 months of age) and is the only state to mandate the specific Meningicoccal B vaccines for all people enrolled in college classes, including online and commuter students. Additional information on New Jersey Vaccination mandates can be found HERE.
New Jersey has mandatory vaccination regulations, however, a child can attend public or most private schools with select or no vaccines if the parent/guardian provides a valid medical or religious exemption letter to the school administrator. There is some discrepancy as to whether religious schools have the to option of denying or accepting a religious exemption. NJ does not currently allow parents to use a conscientious/philosophical vaccine exemption. Reference: 2024 Health Department Memo
A medical exemption letter must be written by a licensed physician in New Jersey. Medical exemptions would apply to individuals who are allergic to any components of the vaccines, and those who have had severe reactions in the past. Also, some immunocompromised individuals taking specific medications should not receive certain vaccines. Siblings adverse reactions do not automatically exempt a child although should be thoroughly considered prior to vaccination.
Medical contraindications to vaccines are listed in the manufacturer’s package insert and the Physicians Desk Reference, yet guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics and/or Centers for Disease Control usually define the medical condition/status that is acceptable for a medical exemption. Click Here for further details from the CDC.
A medical exemption must be renewed annually, and even if written by a licensed physician, the local Board of Health has the right to reject the exemption.
New Jersey specific guidelines for a medical exemption are available here.
In order to qualify for a religious exemption, you must have sincere religious beliefs that prohibit vaccination. A religious exemption is not the same as a philosophical, moral or conscientious exemption. A valid religious exemption letter is required to legally exempt a child from mandated vaccines. A parent/guardian must write a letter stating that vaccinations conflict with religious beliefs. An emailed religious exemption is not acceptable in NJ. A religious exemption must be dated, identify the name of the child and signed by the student’s parents or guardians.
In the recent past, school officials have erroneously requested letters from clergy or they have questioned a parents religion, as well as other discriminatory practices. A religious exemption does not have to include the name of the religion, nor does it need to be notarized, nor signed by a religious leader. In practice, if the letter contains the word “religion” or “religious” or some reference thereto, then the letter should be accepted and the religious exemption of mandatory vaccinations be granted. According to a April 19, 2024 memo by the NJ Department of Health and Senior Services, school administrators were specifically instructed to avoid such practices. The memo itself can be accessed here.
Children with religious exemptions, medical exemptions and provisional status may be excluded from a school, preschool or child care facility during a vaccine-preventable disease outbreak or threatened outbreak as determined by the Commissioner of the Department of Health.
You always have the right to consider what is best for your kids. If you choose to discontinue or delay vaccinating, however, your child is still expected to receive all state mandated vaccinations to enter school unless you qualify for a medical or religious exemption.
If your child was granted a religious exemption and then you get that child vaccinated, the religious exemption becomes null and void. You must then submit a new request for a religious exemption.
As part of the Department of Health’s Vaccine Preventable Disease Program, local health departments are tasked with assisting schools in implementing and enforcing the immunization requirements contained in N.J.A.C 8:57-4. To monitor school vaccination rates, the Public Health Nurse conducts annual immunization audits. They are also required to maintain an official state of New Jersey immunization record for every pupil, separate from the educational record for the purpose of an immunization record audit.
Every time your child receives a vaccine, that vaccine is cataloged in the state immunization database. When performing the annual audits, the Public Health Nurse will cross reference the school nurse’s immunization and exemption records to the state immunization database.
If your child has had an adverse reaction to a vaccine, or combination of vaccines (you may review the manufacturers package inserts online or the Physicians Desk Reference for more details), your doctor is required by law to report the adverse events to federal health authorities within 30 days of occurrence. If your doctor refuses, you have the right to submit your own report. Even common, mild side effects should be reported to the federal vaccine tracking database.
Click here to access details on filing a report with VAERS, Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System. If you would like to speak with someone from NJCVC, please submit a QUESTION and someone will be in touch. We can help guide you.
The best way to get involved is to JOIN NJCVC. At this time, we are only sending messages that require immediate action. Please check back for updates.
Our facebook page was taken down due to media censorship. The best way to stay up to date is to JOIN NJCVC. NJCVC does not utilize social media heavily. We feel strongly that we can be more effective by working to cultivate relationships and communication offline.
Here is a video on how to navigate the legislative website. [2024 UPDATE] – Since this video was recorded, the NJ Legislative website has updated the design of their website. We will post an updated video soon.
“The Antibody Titer Law (Holly’s Law) (NJSA 26:2N-8- 11), passed on January 14, 2004, concerns vaccination of children with the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine. The law allows parents to seek testing to determine a child’s immunity to measles, mumps, and rubella, before receiving the second dose of the vaccine.”
Please review the “Information for Parents.”
For the past several legislative cycles Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt (LD6) has filed a bill that would ” Require human papillomavirus vaccinations for students in grades six through 12.”
This bill is something that we have to watch closely. At this time, NJCVC is advocating for concerned citizens to express their concerns about this bill to their local legislators. Please JOIN NJCVC to be connected with other activists in your area. Additional information on this vaccination can be found HERE.
Yes. The schedule of recommended vaccines has increased over the past few decades. In 1960 it was recommended that people receive 5 doses of vaccines. In the 1980s it rose to 24 doses. You can find the current 2024 of the CDC recommended doses here.