Civil rights director says, “Explicit religious exemptions, state religious freedom laws may limit vaccine mandates that substantially burden religious exercise.“
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office for Civil Rights (OCR) issued a letter to states participating in the Vaccines for Children Program (VCP), instructing them to follow state laws that allow religious or conscience-based exemptions to vaccine requirements. The letter emphasized that compliance with these exemptions is a condition of participation in the program, which provides federally purchased vaccines for eligible children through state and local immunization programs.
“VCP providers should be aware that in addition to explicit religious exemptions, state religious freedom laws may limit vaccine mandates that substantially burden religious exercise,” said OCR Director Paula Stannard.
“Some individuals with religious or moral objections don’t oppose vaccination itself. They may have specific concerns that focus on the development or manufacturing of particular vaccines. For example, parents may object to immunizing their children with vaccines historically derived from aborted fetal cell lines, based on their sincere and deeply held beliefs about the sanctity of life,” she concluded.
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For Director Stannard to be led by the Lord as she heads the HHS Office of Civil Rights.
- For discernment for Secretary Kennedy as he heads the federal health department and seeks to ensure the free exercise of religion regarding healthcare.
Sources: Department of Health and Human Services
