Colorado is one of 20 states that let parents use personal belief exemptions, which only require a parent's signature to keep their child from getting some or all of the required immunizations like MMR and whooping cough. Beginning July 2016, parents will have to sign those non-medical exemptions much more frequently under new rules passed by the state's Board of Health.
Currently parents can sign the personal belief or religious exemption just once. Under the new rules parents using non-medical exemptions for pre-kindergarten children will need to submit exemption forms at each age when recommended vaccines are due. Then from kindergarten through 12th grade, they will need to submit exemption forms annually. There will also be a new online form for parents to use.
Colorado's current non-medical exemption rate is 4.6 percent.The national average is 1.8 percent.
"These new rules are a positive step forward in strengthening our immunization rates and protecting our kids and the communities in Colorado," said Gov. John Hickenlooper in a released statement. "Yet we know our work is not done and will continue to work with the Board of Health, medical community and our state agencies to ensure parents have the facts about immunizations."
According to the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment,
"research shows that children whose parents claim exemptions are more likely to get and transmit vaccine-preventable diseases. Increased exemption rates lead to greater rates of vaccine-preventable diseases in communities. States with strengthened exemption policies have lower overall exemption rates."
Data on immunization and exemption rates will also be much more transparent. Beginning on the same date as the new exemption rules data that the CDPHE already collects from schools and child care centers will be made public, so parents can see the immunizations and exemption rates for specific places. According to the CDPHE release it will also "provide more timely and accurate data for schools and public health officials in case of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases."
