Can kids skip school vaccines for religious reasons in New Jersey?

The 2026-27 school year will soon begin in New Jersey and across the Mid-Atlantic region, and while vaccinations are generally mandatory, what's a parent to do if their religion prevent them from allowing their child to be vaccinated?

The number of kindergarten students receiving vaccine exemptions has been rising nationally.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, exemptions from one or more school vaccine requirements reached 3.6% during the 2024-25 school year, representing about 138,000 students.

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But whether a child can receive a religious exemption depends on where the family lives. Here's what parents need to know before the new school year starts.

Can children receive a religious exemption from school vaccines?

In New Jersey, religious exemptions from school vaccine requirements are allowed.

According to the New Jersey Department of Health, those exemptions apply in public, private and parochial schools, but schools may not grant exemptions based solely on philosophical, moral or secular objections.

How to request a religious exemption in New Jersey

According to the New Jersey Department of Health, parents or guardians seeking a religious exemption from school vaccine requirements must submit a signed written statement to the school indicating that the immunization interferes with the student's religious rights.

The department notes that parents do not need to identify membership in a recognized church or religious denomination for the exemption to be granted.

Students may still be excluded during outbreaks

Parents should also be aware that receiving a religious exemption does not necessarily guarantee a child will be allowed to attend school in every circumstance.

According to New Jersey's immunization regulations, schools may exclude students with religious exemptions during vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks or threatened outbreaks.

Parents should consult their child's school regarding submission procedures.

Damon C. Williams is a Philadelphia-based journalist reporting on trending, breaking and service-related topics across the Mid-Atlantic region for the USA Today Network.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Can kids skip school vaccines for religious reasons in New Jersey?