School vaccine exemptions by state

Arizona

Arizona allows medical, religious, and personal-belief exemptions. Personal-belief exemptions apply to K-12 schools; childcare centers accept medical and religious exemptions only.

Exemptions: medical, religious, personal · reviewed 2026-09-10

Florida

Florida allows medical and religious exemptions. The religious exemption is a county health department form the parent signs, with no doctor involved. A proposed state rule would drop four vaccines from the school-entry list; it was still pending in October 2026, so confirm the current required list.

Exemptions: medical, religious · reviewed 2026-10-26

Georgia

Georgia allows medical and religious exemptions for school and childcare immunization requirements. There is no personal-belief exemption.

Exemptions: medical, religious · reviewed 2026-09-10

Illinois

Illinois allows medical and religious exemptions. The religious exemption form must be signed by a health care provider as well as the parent, which makes the practice's cooperation matter.

Exemptions: medical, religious · provider signature required · reviewed 2026-09-10

Michigan

Michigan allows medical, religious, and philosophical ("other") waivers for school and childcare. Nonmedical waivers must be certified by your local health department after a short education session; no doctor's signature is needed.

Exemptions: medical, religious, personal · reviewed 2026-09-25

North Carolina

North Carolina allows medical and religious exemptions. The religious exemption is a written statement from the parent; no state form or provider signature is required.

Exemptions: medical, religious · reviewed 2026-09-10

New Jersey

New Jersey allows medical and religious exemptions from school and childcare immunization requirements. The religious exemption is a written statement from the parent; no state form or provider signature is required.

Exemptions: medical, religious · reviewed 2026-09-10

Ohio

Ohio allows medical exemptions and exemptions for "reasons of conscience, including religious convictions." The conscience exemption is a written statement from the parent; no state form or provider signature is required.

Exemptions: medical, religious, personal · reviewed 2026-09-10

Oklahoma

Oklahoma allows medical, religious, and personal-belief exemptions for school, child care, and Head Start. Religious and personal exemptions are a parent-signed state certificate, with no doctor's signature or education session; a medical exemption needs a physician's signature.

Exemptions: medical, religious, personal · reviewed 2026-09-26

Tennessee

Tennessee allows medical and religious exemptions from school immunization requirements. There is no philosophical exemption.

Exemptions: medical, religious · reviewed 2026-09-10

Texas

Texas allows medical exemptions and "reasons of conscience" exemptions, which include religious belief. The conscience exemption uses a notarized state affidavit that is valid for two years.

Exemptions: medical, religious, personal · reviewed 2026-09-10

West Virginia

West Virginia's school law allows only medical exemptions. A 2025 executive order and a 2025 court ruling opened religious exemptions, but the state Supreme Court stayed that ruling and schools have been told not to accept them while the appeal is pending.

Exemptions: medical · provider signature required · reviewed 2026-09-25