Exemption from Immunization
State law permits exemptions from the required immunizations for medical, religious or philosophical reasons, as indicated below:
- Medical Exemption — A physician or physician’s designee must provide a written statement that immunization may be detrimental to the health of the child.
- Religious Exemption — Parent(s)/guardian(s) or an emancipated child must object in writing to the immunization based on contradiction to his/her religious beliefs.
- Philosophical/Strong Moral or Ethical Conviction Exemption — Parent(s)/ guardian(s) or an emancipated child must object in writing to the immunization based on his/her personal beliefs.
If a child is exempt from immunizations, he/she may be removed from school during an outbreak.
Mars Area School District encourages all parents/guardians to talk to your child’s pediatrician about those vaccines needed for your child to attend school. For additional information, please contact your healthcare provider or visit https://www.education.pa.gov/Policy-Funding/BECS/Purdons/Pages/SchoolImmReq.aspx.
Requests for Exemption
Anyone requesting an exemption from immunizations for one of the above reasons is asked to complete Mars Area School District's "Exemption from Immunization" form, available at https://www.marsk12.org/apps/pages/index.jsp?uREC_ID=795686&type=d&pREC_ID=1186817. The completed from should be returned to the School Nurse in the individual student's school building.