Illinois parents who refuse to have their children vaccinated due to religious reasons will now need to obtain a certification signed by a doctor stating that they have been informed of the risks of being unvaccinated.
The bill was signed into law last Aug. 3, 2015 and will be in effect starting Oct. 16 this year, according to WAND TV.
The law requires parents of children entering kindergarten and grades 6 and 9 to show a "Certificate of Religious Exemption" signed by a doctor if they don't want their kids to be vaccinated.
Vaccinations may not be legally required for those who don't want them due to religious grounds, but the certificate should be presented to the school and must contain details on why they strongly object.
The law will also accept medical exemptions and the parents will still need a note from the doctor stating the reasons why giving a vaccine will bring conflict to the child's medical status.
Tony Smith, Ph.D., the State Superintendent of Education, said that the Illinois State Board of Education is aware that those who have religious reasons should be offered an option not to go for a vaccination, but he believes that a "balance between family rights and the health of all students" should also exist.
The certification required by the law will ensure that parents or guardians will understand if their children will not be allowed to go to school in the event of an exposure or outbreak.
Just in February this year, Illinois faced a measles outbreak that affected 15 children. According to Illinois Department of Public Health Director Nirav Shah, the outbreak emphasizes the importance of vaccines in preventing infection.
Shah said in her statement last Wednesday that receiving immunizations can protect the whole community, as reported in WGNtv.com.
However, researchers and the federal government do acknowledge that vaccines are not 100 percent safe and effective, but there's also no way of telling if a vaccine can protect or harm an individual.
