AMA Supports Tighter Limitations on Immunization Opt Outs
June 8, 2015
CHICAGO – Addressing the re-emergence of vaccine preventable diseases in the United States requires states to move toward barring non-medical exemptions to immunization mandates, according to new policy adopted by the nation’s physicians at the American Medical Association’s annual meeting. Under new policy, the AMA will seek more stringent state immunization requirements to allow exemptions only for medical reasons.

Immunization programs in the Unites States are credited with having controlled or eliminated the spread of epidemic diseases, including smallpox, measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria and polio. Immunization requirements vary from state to state, but only two states bar non-medical exemptions based on personal beliefs.

“When people are immunized they also help prevent the spread of disease to others, said AMA Board Member Patrice A. Harris, M.D. “As evident from the recent measles outbreak at Disneyland, protecting community health in today’s mobile society requires that policymakers not permit individuals from opting out of immunization solely as a matter of personal preference or convenience.”

New AMA policy recommends that states have in place an established decision mechanism that involves qualified public health physicians to determine which vaccines will be mandatory for admission to schools and other public venues. States should only grant exemptions to these mandated vaccines for medical reasons.

In recognition that highly transmissible diseases could pose significant medical risks for vulnerable patients and the health care workforce, new AMA policy also states that physicians and other health professionals who have direct patient care responsibilities have an obligation to accept immunization unless there is a recognized medical reason.
The AMA also intends to support the dissemination of materials on vaccine efficacy to states as part of the effort to eliminate non-medical exemptions.

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American Medical Association – Policies
H-440.970 Religious Exemptions from Immunizations
‘Since religious/philosophic exemptions from immunizations endanger not only the health of the unvaccinated individual, but also the health of those in his or her group and the community at large, the AMA (1) encourages state medical associations to seek removal of such exemptions in statutes requiring mandatory immunizations; (2) encourages physicians and state and local medical associations to work with public health officials to inform religious groups and others who object to immunizations of the benefits of vaccinations and the risk to their own health and that of the general public if they refuse to accept them; and (3) encourages state and local medical associations to work with public health officials to develop contingency plans for controlling outbreaks in exempt populations and to intensify efforts to achieve high immunization rates in communities where groups having religious exemptions from immunizations reside. (CSA Rep. B, A-87; Reaffirmed: Sunset Report, I-97; Reaffirmed: CSAPH Rep. 3, A-07)

H-515.988 Repeal of Religious Exemptions in Child Abuse and Medical Practice Statutes
Our AMA (1) reaffirms existing policy supporting repeal of the religious exemption from state child abuse statutes; (2) recognizes that constitutional barriers may exist with regard to elimination of the religious exemption from state medical practice acts; and (3) encourages state medical associations that are aware of problems with respect to spiritual healing practitioners in their areas to investigate such situations and pursue all solutions, including legislation where appropriate, to address such matters. (BOT Rep. H, A-90; Reaffirmed: Sunset Report, I-00; Reaffirmed: CSAPH Rep. 1, A-10)