FW:FW: Health Department Memo to schools, Dec. 1 New Jersey!!!!

[Guest guest]

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From: NJAICV@... [mailto:NJAICV@...]

Hi Everyone,

I have received several e-mails regarding the memo that the health dept.

sent to all the school regarding the religious exemption.... so let me

try and clarify.

This memo is a very good thing.

The State Statute is 26:1a-9.1. This just basically states that a

parent needs to put in writing that vaccination conflicts with religious

beliefs.

From this state statute the health dept. draws up regulations to enforce

the statute. These regulations are N.J.A.C. 8:57-4. These are what has

been changing over the years to make the religious exemption more

restrictive and cumbersome. First they added the clause that

religiously affiliated school did not have to follow this and could do

what they want. Then they changed it to say that parents must explain

how vaccination conflicts with bona fide tenets, etc.

Many schools took it upon themselves to become judges of peoples beliefs

and expect lots and lots of details about those beliefs. and would deny

letters, requiring parents to rewrite several times, etc.

(At a meeting with Health Commissioner several months

ago, myself and two other parents expressed how the religious exemption

was not working as intended, there was no continuity and parents were

being bullied and harassed - don't know if this memo was partly a result

of that - but I like to think so).

What this memo does is bring the regulations back in line with the

intent of the statute. It specifically states that schools are not to

question the parents statement or beliefs and that membership in a

particular religion is not required. It also reaffirms that all schools

must follow this - parochial, private as well as child care and daycare

facilities.

The memo also states that the regulations will be officially amended to

be consistent with the statute. That will most likely be through the

public health council with a public hearing at some point. (I am

guessing).

I hope this helps clarify any question that you may have had. I have

attached the memo again.

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