The U.S. State of North Carolina

Allows:

Medical exemptions
Religious exemptions





CHAPTER 130A. PUBLIC HEALTH
ARTICLE 6. COMMUNICABLE DISEASES
PART 2. IMMUNIZATION

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-152 (2002)

§ 130A-152. Immunization required

(a) Every child present in this State shall be immunized against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, poliomyelitis, red measles (rubeola) and rubella. In addition, every child present in this State shall be immunized against any other disease upon a determination by the Commission that the immunization is in the interest of the public health. Every parent, guardian, person in loco parentis and person or agency, whether governmental or private, with legal custody of a child shall have the responsibility to ensure that the child has received the required immunization at the age required by the Commission. If a child has not received the required immunizations by the specified age, the responsible person shall obtain the required immunization for the child as soon as possible after the lack of the required immunization is determined.

(b) Repealed by Session Laws 2002-179, s. 10, effective October 1, 2002.

(c) The Commission shall adopt and the Department shall enforce rules concerning the implementation of the immunization program. The rules shall provide for:

(1) The child's age at administration of each vaccine;

(2) The number of doses of each vaccine;

(3) Exemptions from the immunization requirements where medical practice suggests that immunization would not be in the best health interests of a specific category of children;

(4) The procedures and practices for administering the vaccine; and

(5) Redistribution of vaccines provided to local health departments.

(c1) The Commission for Health Services shall, pursuant to G.S. 130A-152 and G.S. 130A-433, adopt rules establishing reasonable fees for the administration of vaccines and rules limiting the requirements that can be placed on children, their parents, guardians, or custodians as a condition for receiving vaccines provided by the State. These rules shall become effective January 1, 1994.

(d) Only vaccine preparations which meet the standards of the United States Food and Drug Administration or its successor in licensing vaccines and are approved for use by the Commission may be used.

(e) When the Commission requires immunization against a disease not listed in paragraph (a) of this section, or requires an additional dose of a vaccine, the Commission is authorized to exempt from the new requirement children who are or who have been enrolled in school (K-12) on or before the effective date of the new requirement.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-156 (2002)

§ 130A-156. Medical exemption

The Commission for Health Services shall adopt by rule medical contraindications to immunizations required by G.S. 130A-152. If a physician licensed to practice medicine in this State certifies that a required immunization is or may be detrimental to a person's health due to the presence of one of the contraindications adopted by the Commission, the person is not required to receive the specified immunization as long as the contraindication persists. The State Health Director may, upon request by a physician licensed to practice medicine in this State, grant a medical exemption to a required immunization for a contraindication not on the list adopted by the Commission.

N.C. Gen. Stat. § 130A-157 (2002)

§ 130A-157. Religious exemption

If the bona fide religious beliefs of an adult or the parent, guardian or person in loco parentis of a child are contrary to the immunization requirements contained in this Chapter, the adult or the child shall be exempt from the requirements. Upon submission of a written statement of the bona fide religious beliefs and opposition to the immunization requirements, the person may attend the college, university, school or facility without presenting a certificate of immunization.

TITLE 15A. DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES
CHAPTER 19. HEALTH: EPIDEMIOLOGY
SUBCHAPTER 19A. COMMUNICABLE DISEASE CONTROL
SECTION .0400. IMMUNIZATION

15A N.C.A.C. 19A.0403 (2003)

.0403 NON-RELIGIOUS PERSONAL BELIEF NO EXEMPTION

Except as provided in G.S. 130A-156 and G.S. 130A-157, and 15A NCAC 19A .0404 and .0405, no child shall be exempt from the requirements of 15A NCAC 19A .0401; there is no exception to these requirements for the case of a personal belief or philosophy of a parent or guardian not founded upon a religious belief.