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Claiming a Religious Exemption
Jessicca Hall In past newsletters we have had articles about claiming a religious
exemption from vaccinations for entry into school in New York State. Two articles were
written by members of NIIN who educated themselves through exploring their resources and
attending NIIN meetings. Both members consulted with Sharon Kimmelman, Director of
Vaccination Alternatives, and wrote and submitted their exemptions themselves. Both
exemptions were unquestioningly accepted.
Do you need to hire a lawyer to file an exemption? Legally, the answer is no. Emotionally,
if you find you desire the support of legal council, that is a choice only you can make.
Member experience in our group has demonstrated that a family can file an exemption due to
sincere religious belief without hiring a lawyer. The key word, as stated in N.Y. State Public Health Law 2164 sub. 9 (and for college
students - Public Health Law 2165 sub. 9), concerning
religious exemption for entry into school is "sincere". Finding sincerity in
your beliefs cannot be achieved by hiring a lawyer, making a phone call, or even buying a
book. There are many resources that can guide you in claiming your exemption, but they
will all be meaningless without your commitment to your choice and sincerity in your
belief. If you choose to hire a lawyer or a consultant, make sure that you do not do so in
order to bypass an important process of introspection. Writing your letter is a good
opportunity to define your beliefs for yourself. This can be an empowering process.
Members of NIIN who have shared their letter writing process with the group at support
meetings have found that they gain confidence in their choice when they undertake the
process of writing the letter themselves.
The goal of the Natural Immunity Information Network is to empower our members to be able
to make choices for themselves and their families that they feel good about. We strive to
provide honest and accurate information to facilitate their decision making process. All
our meetings and speakers are to that end. In February we asked James
Filenbaum, Esq. to
speak regarding claiming a religious exemption in N.Y. State. We asked him because he had
written letters for two of our members and has a history with the issue.
NIIN recommends that you consult with as many sources as possible before writing your
exemption letter, or hiring a lawyer or consultant to assist you. Please refer to our resources page for a list of resources to contact when
writing your letter. Some people may postpone the process because they are nervous,
afraid, or simply too busy. Take the time now to begin, so you will be able to take full
advantage of what's available to you, such as our support group meetings, which are a
wonderful forum for you to share your process and enjoy the benefits of other people's
experiences.
There is another aspect to the issues of exemptions in N.Y. state, the law needs to be
changed. We should not have to jump through hoops to get our children into school!
Presently, our group lacks the resources to undertake an aggressive campaign to change the
law. We suggest you contact VACCINATION LIBERATION, listed on our resources page, if you
resent the present requirements for entry into school.
See also: Defining My Spirituality
Vaccination Alternatives (a community resource since 1985) Email
va-sk@juno.com Sharon Kimmelman, P.O. Box 346, New York, N.Y., 10023 voice/fax (212) 873-5051
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