North Carolina Vaccine Exemptions
The following information is taken from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services' (NCDHHS) website.
North Carolina law provides for two types of exemptions from required immunizations. They are medical and religious.
Medical Exemption
G.S.130A-156. Medical exemption.
The Commission for Public Health shall adopt by rule medical contraindications to immunizations required by G.S. 130A-152. If a physician licensed to practice medicine in this State certifies that a required immunization is or may be detrimental to a person's health due to the presence of one of the contraindications adopted by the Commission, the person is not required to receive the specified immunization as long as the contraindication persists. The State Health Director may, upon request by a physician licensed to practice medicine in this State, grant a medical exemption to a required immunization for a contraindication not on the list adopted by the Commission.
Medical exemptions can only be requested by a physician licensed to practice medicine in North Carolina. If a physician determines the need to request a medical exemption from a required immunization for a patient and needs assistance, they should contact the North Carolina Immunization Branch at (919) 707-5550.
- (08/03/2020) Revised Medical Exemption Statement and Physician’s Request for Medical Exemption Forms Memo
- Medical Exemption (PDF, 170 KB) (DHHS 3987)
Use this form for true contraindications, i.e. those recognized by the Commission for Public Health.
- Physician’s Request for Medical Exemption (PDF, 136 KB) (DHHS 3995)
Use this form for contraindications not recognized by the Commission for Public Health.
Religious Exemption
G.S.130A-157*. Religious exemption
If the bona fide religious beliefs of an adult or the parent, guardian or person in loco parentis of a child are contrary to the immunization requirements contained in this Part**, the adult or the child shall be exempt from the requirements. Upon submission of a written statement of the bona fide religious beliefs and opposition to the immunization requirements, the person may attend the college, university, school or facility without presenting a certificate of immunization.
There is no form for requesting religious exemptions in North Carolina. To claim a religious exemption, the parent or person requesting the exemption must write a statement of their religious objection to immunization, including the name and date of birth of the person for whom the exemption is being requested. This statement would then be provided to schools, child care programs, camps, etc. in place of an immunization record. If a family is requesting a religious exemption for more than one child, a separate statement should be prepared for each child. Statements of religious objection to immunization do not need to be notarized, signed by a religious leader, or prepared by an attorney. They do not need to be submitted to the state for review or approval.
*NORTH CAROLINA IMMUNIZATION LAW RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION NORTH CAROLINA GENERAL STATUTE 130A-157 SECTION 130A-157. **Chapter 130A, Article 6, Part B
Please note that, while "there is no form for requesting religious exemptions in North Carolina," it may streamline things for you to use a simple form like the one linked in the button below. Alternatively, feel free to copy/paste the following into your word processing program and edit as desired. Beneath it, add your Printed Name, Signature, Address, Phone, Date, and if for a minor child, the Minor Child's Name, Date of Birth, Address, Phone and your relationship to the minor.
Pursuant to the aforementioned N.C.G.S. 130A-157, I, the undersigned, declare the immunization requirements as set forth in N.C.G.S. 130A-152 contrary to my bona fide religious beliefs and request, as permitted by the law, an exemption from the immunization requirements of your institution for myself or the undersigned minor child under my legal care or guardianship.
Realistically, you could write your statement on a napkin and sign it, and it would be legal. But sometimes having something that is more official-looking, and which includes the wording from the general statute, helps to avoid conflict and provides information concerning the law to an over-zealous staff member.
Form originally created by People Advocating Vaccine Education. You can also find an excellent Q&A about NC Exemptions on their website.
