US health agency issues letter to states and providers on vaccine religious exemptions

US Health Agency Issues Letter to States and Providers on Vaccine Religious Exemptions

US health agency issues letter to states and providers on vaccine religious exemptions

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said on Thursday that providers and states administering vaccines to children through the government's free access program must respect states' religious and conscience exemptions to remain eligible for participation.

HHS Orders Providers to Honor Religious Vaccine Exemptions

The Department of Health and Human Services issued a letter notifying state awardees of the Vaccines for Children Program (VCP) that participants must honor religious exemptions from vaccine mandates. “Today’s letter makes clear that providers must respect state laws protecting religious and conscience-based exemptions to vaccine mandates,” HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a statement. “States have the authority to balance public heal…

HHS Tells Children’s Vaccine Program Participants They Must Honor Religious Exemptions

Participants in a federally funded children’s vaccination program nationwide must honor religious and conscience exemptions from vaccine mandates, according to a Sept. 4 letter from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Civil Rights. The Vaccines for Children Program (VCP) provides vaccines to children whose parents or guardians may not be able to afford them, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “St…

HHS Issues Guidance Reaffirming Religious Exemptions in Vaccines for Children Program

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office for Civil Rights has issued a nationwide letter reminding states that participation in the federal Vaccines for Children Program (VCP) requires compliance with state religious and conscience exemptions to vaccine mandates. The VCP, which provides publicly purchased vaccines at reduced cost for eligible children, is implemented through 61 state, local, and territoria…