pleasanttulip,

I commend you for thinking for yourself about vaccines!

I am aware of no law that would help in your situation, but you do have recourse.  First, understand that there is a huge difference between a government agency or entity forcing a health care policy on you and a private entity making something like a vaccine part of the contractual arrangement between a willing customer and a willing provider.  Your recourse is to refuse the conditions of the "contract" and go to another school that respects your wishes.

You have the ultimate "veto" power - just walk away.

If you do walk away, please make sure they know that they lost a good customer and the reason they lost you.  That may make them re-think their policy.

We all need to remember that freedom cut two ways - your freedom as a private citizen to refuse the conditions and stipulations placed on you and also a private company or school's freedom to set the conditions for providing their services.

Please note that it is a different situation if the company, school, or hospital changes their conditions or stipulations after you have struck a "deal" with them - that very well could be a breach of contract.

If it is any consolation, it could be that a school that forces vaccines may have some other policies you may not like...

Best wishes!

- Ron


pleasanttulip wrote:

Hello, new member here.

I am currently applying at a private college in Missouri. I have conscious and religious objections to vaccinations, and my parents never had me vaccinated. I submitted a letter to the college stating my reasons for declining vaccinations, along with an Affidavit with my one of my parents' signatures (at the time, I was a minor). The college sent it back. They rejected it on the grounds that they are a private college with "a specific policy regarding immunizations". According to them, the only way I can receive an exemption is if I submit a letter from a doctor stating that I have an allergic reaction to the required immunizations.

My questions are:
a.) Is it really lawful for them to discriminate against my religious convictions because they are a private insitution?
I have searched Missouri laws regarding vaccinations, but the only thing I can find is related to K-12 school. In that case, Missouri does offer an religious exemption form for children. I can't find anything in relation to colleges, though.

b.) If they CAN legally reject my religious exemption claim, how do I go about getting a medical exemption? I was told that the doctor that submits the letter would be held liable, which is probably not very desirable.

I would greatly appreciate any input or assistance!

-- *************************************
Ron Calzone
Director, Missouri First, Inc.
mailto:ron@...
Web URL http://www.mofirst.org
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