# childhood vaccinations **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 18, 2008, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-vaccinations/438157 "2008-02-18T20:40:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ed241](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9de053/32.png) [@ed241](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ed241)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2008, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-vaccinations/438157/1 "2008-02-18T20:40:41Z")
Can a child attend public school if they have not had thier vaccinations? ---
**Author:** ![jimmmy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/73ab20/32.png) [@jimmmy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmmy)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2008, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-vaccinations/438157/2 "2008-02-18T21:01:29Z")
It depends on where you are. In Maryland you can files forms to exempt out for for religious or medical reasons. So if you do this yes they can be unvaccinated and in public school. In Colorado there are apparently ways to opt out for religious, medical or philosophical reasons - so again yes they can in certain situations In Maryland if you don’t exempt out for these reasons, not only can’t your kids go to school, there have been efforts to put the parents in jail. [cite](http://denver.yourhub.com/FederalHeights/Stories/Health-Fitness/Resources/Story~414031.aspx) ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-vaccinations/438157/3 "2008-02-19T01:06:57Z")
[QUOTE=ed241] Can a child attend public school if they have not had thier vaccinations? [/QUOTE] Yes. In CA the parent signs a form stating that they have opted out. Public schools cannot prevent the child from attending. ---
**Author:** ![ed241](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9de053/32.png) [@ed241](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ed241)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 1:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-vaccinations/438157/4 "2008-02-19T01:28:27Z")
But doesn’t it risk the health of the other children? ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-vaccinations/438157/5 "2008-02-19T01:59:55Z")
[QUOTE=ed241] But doesn’t it risk the health of the other children? [/QUOTE] That seems to be the case, right now, [in San Diego.](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/18/earlyshow/health/main3842334.shtml) > [@](#): > > None of the 11 patients had been immunized. ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-vaccinations/438157/6 "2008-02-19T02:26:22Z")
[QUOTE=kunilou] That seems to be the case, right now, [in San Diego.](http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/02/18/earlyshow/health/main3842334.shtml) [/QUOTE] Three cheers for great parenting. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Mahna\_Mahna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e47c2d/32.png) [@Mahna\_Mahna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahna_Mahna)\ **Post date:** [February 19, 2008, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/childhood-vaccinations/438157/7 "2008-02-19T02:51:44Z")
[QUOTE=Sophistry and Illusion] Three cheers for great parenting. :rolleyes: [/QUOTE] Hey, their kids may have contracted a perfectly preventable disease and may potentially die from it, but at least they didn’t die of autism! /snark