Question: Does North Carolina allow vaccination exemptions for school-age children?
Answer: Yes. North Carolina allows vaccination exemptions for school-age children, but only for medical or religious reasons. Personal or philosophical belief exemptions are not permitted.
- Medical exemptions: A North Carolina-licensed physician must complete the official NC Medical Exemption Statement Form (listing contraindications) and submit it to the school or child-care program. For conditions not listed on the form, a request can be sent to the State Health Director for approval.
- Religious exemptions: Parents/guardians write a simple statement of religious objection that includes the child’s name, date of birth, and the reason for the objection. No notarization, religious leader signature, or attorney involvement is required. The statement goes directly to the school or program.
These rules apply to public, private, religious, and homeschooled students.
