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MISSISSIPPI
Miss. Code Ann. § 41-23-37 (2007)
§ 41-23-37. Immunization practices for control
of vaccine preventable diseases; attendance by unvaccinated children
Whenever indicated, the state health officer shall
specify such immunization practices as may be considered best for the
control of vaccine preventable diseases. A listing shall be promulgated
annually or more often, if necessary.
Except as provided hereinafter, it shall be unlawful for any child to
attend any school, kindergarten or similar type facility intended for
the instruction of children (hereinafter called "schools"),
either public or private, with the exception of any legitimate home instruction
program as defined in Section 37-13-91, Mississippi Code of 1972, for
ten (10) or less children who are related within the third degree computed
according to the civil law to the operator, unless they shall first have
been vaccinated against those diseases specified by the state health officer.
A certificate of exemption from vaccination for medical reasons may be
offered on behalf of a child by a duly licensed physician and may be accepted
by the local health officer when, in his opinion, such exemption will
not cause undue risk to the community.
Certificates of vaccination shall be issued by local health officers or
physicians on forms specified by the Mississippi State Board of Health.
These forms shall be the only acceptable means for showing compliance
with these immunization requirements, and the responsible school officials
shall file the form with the child's record.
If a child shall offer to enroll at a school without having completed
the required vaccinations, the local health officer may grant a period
of time up to ninety (90) days for such completion when, in the opinion
of the health officer, such delay will not cause undue risk to the child,
the school or the community. No child shall be enrolled without having
had at least one (1) dose of each specified vaccine.
Within thirty (30) days after the opening of the fall term of school (on
or before October 1 of each year) the person in charge of each school
shall report to the county or local health officer, on forms provided
by the Mississippi State Board of Health, the number of children enrolled
by age or grade or both, the number fully vaccinated, the number in process
of completing vaccination requirements, and the number exempt from vaccination
by reason for such exemption.
Within one hundred twenty (120) days after the opening of the fall term
(on or before December 31), the person in charge of each school shall
certify to the local or county health officer that all children enrolled
are in compliance with immunization requirements.
For the purpose of assisting in supervising the immunization status of
the children the local health officer, or his designee, may inspect the
children's records or be furnished certificates of immunization compliance
by the school.
It shall be the responsibility of the person in charge of each school
to enforce the requirements for immunization. Any child not in compliance
at the end of ninety (90) days from the opening of the fall term must
be suspended until in compliance, unless the health officer shall attribute
the delay to lack of supply of vaccine or some other such factor clearly
making compliance impossible.
Failure to enforce provisions of this section shall constitute a misdemeanor
and upon conviction be punishable by fine or imprisonment or both.
1. IN GENERAL.
Section 41-23-37 serves an overriding and compelling public interest
which extends to the exclusion of a child until immunization has
been effected; the provision of § 41-23-37 providing an exemption
because of religious belief is in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment
to the United States Constitution and is void. Brown v. Stone, 378
So. 2d 218 (Miss. 1979), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 887, 101 S. Ct.
242, 66 L. Ed. 2d 112 (1980)
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