Greenfield-Central Immunization Exemption Requirements
STATE LAW ON RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION TO IMMUNIZATION
IC 20-34-3-2
Religious objections
Sec. 2. (a) Except as otherwise provided, a student may not be required to undergo any testing, examination, immunization, or treatment required under this chapter or IC 20-34-4 when the child’s parent objects on religious grounds. A religious objection does not exempt a child from any testing, examination, immunization, or treatment required under this chapter or IC 20-34-4 unless the objection is:
(1) made in writing;
(2) signed by the child’s parent; and
(3) delivered to the child’s teacher or to the individual who might order a test, an exam, an immunization, or a treatment absent the objection.
****Greenfield-Central requires a letter including the student’s name, date of birth, and a list of immunizations to which the parent religiously objects. The letter should also state that the exemption is being filed due to religious objections. The letter must be signed and dated by the parent. Religious objections are to be filed annually at the beginning of each school year.****
STATE LAW ON MEDICAL EXEMPTION TO IMMUNIZATION
IC 20-34-3-3
Exception for student’s health
Sec. 3. If a physician certifies that a particular immunization required by this chapter or IC 20-34-4 is or may be detrimental to a student’s health, the requirements of this chapter or IC 20-34-4 for that particular immunization is inapplicable for the student until the immunization is found no longer detrimental to the student’s health.
As added by P.L.1-2005, SEC.18.
****Greenfield-Central requires a Vaccine Medical Exemption Form, State Form 54648 (4-11), be filed when vaccines are contraindicated due to a student’s health status. Medical exemptions are to be filed annually at the beginning of each school year. A copy of this form can be obtained via the Health Services tab of the school corporation’s website. If a student’s medical exemption expires during the school year, the student is required to resume receiving immunizations when the exemption expires.****
If your child has a medical/religious exemption to vaccination and is not fully immunized. Although your child remains at risk for getting a vaccine preventable disease, IC 20-34-4 permits your child to attend school.
In the event of an outbreak of a vaccine preventable disease for which your child is not fully vaccinated, your child may be excluded from school to protect his/her health and the health of all our students and staff. It is important to understand that with some diseases such as measles, one infected child is an outbreak. The length of time your child will be kept out of school depends on the disease. Your child’s exclusion may be as long as 3-4 weeks.
If your child is excluded from school, your child will also be excluded from school sponsored activities, such as sporting events, dances, and graduation that occur within the exclusion period. The school will notify you when your child can return to school.
Incompletely vaccinated children can be excluded from school due to cases of measles, chickenpox, pertussis, mumps, or any other vaccine preventable disease (at the discretion of the local health officer).
Please contact either Dawn Hanson, RN, at [email protected] or Lori May at [email protected] with questions regarding immunization exemptions. The Health Services telephone number is (317) 477-4601.