God Bless Texas: Should Texas Eliminate the Vaccine Exemption for Reasons of Conscience?

Abstract

Every state in the United States of America has legislation requiring specific vaccinations for children in public and private school systems.1 Currently, eighteen states allow philosophical exemptions for those who object to vaccinations because of ”personal, moral, or other beliefs.”2 Texas is one of the eighteen states that have a vaccine exemption for reasons of conscience, which includes religious beliefs.3 The Texas Administrative Code § 97.62 states: