FAST FACTS
- Until 2019, there were no state vaccination requirements for adults. Some private employers and institutions of higher learning set vaccination requirements for employees and/or students. They also set their own exemption terms; they are supposed to comply with state and federal protections regarding religion and disabilities.
- 2019: CHILD CARE WORKERS. A new law was enacted requiring either proof of measles immunity or vaccination with the MMR vaccine for workers and volunteers at certain child day care centers and outdoor nature-based child care providers. See details below.
- 2022: Governor Inslee coerced state agencies to permanently mandate COVID-19 shots for state employees. In 2023, the requirement was rescinded.
- Having difficulty obtaining a signature on a University for other exemption form?
Without any general adult vaccination requirements in state law, colleges, universities and companies often set their own vaccination policy. But you should know that adults are more broadly covered by protections in U.S. law, such as no experimental product can be coerced, and that personal and religious beliefs are valid reasons to exempt oneself from a medical procedures. Sadly, many doctors are hesitant to exempt patients from vaccine requirements. We can try to help you find a provider that will support your wishes.- ICWA provides a free Risk-Benefit Consultation Referral Service to help you find a practitioner to provide an often-used Risk-Benefit consultation and signature.
WASHINGTON STATE LAW
The Legislature passes bills that become law (statutes) in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW). Here are the RCWs pertaining to current adult RCW’s.
| HTMLPDF | 43.216.690 | Child day care centers and outdoor nature-based child care providers—Immunization. |
Find more information about this law HERE.
The legislature failed to include explicit language to provide religious exemptions to child care workers and volunteers. The Department of Health asserts that no exemptions are allowed. However, this remains to be challenged in the courts. When a state law is silent on a legal point, federal law takes precedence, and federal law forbids religious discrimination (therefore religious exemptions must be provided).
The Washington Department of Children, Youth & Families states:
“Can a staff person or volunteer turn in an exemption to the requirement? Staff and volunteers may not be exempted from the requirement to provide documentation of immunity for personal and religious reasons. Only written certification signed by a health care practitioner, licensed in Washington State—medical doctor (MD), naturopathic doctor (ND), osteopathic doctor (DO), advanced registered nurse practitioner (ARNP) or a physician’s assistant (PA)—that the MMR vaccine is, in the practitioner’s judgment, not advisable for the person can be used instead of the documentation of immunity requirement.”
https://www.dcyf.wa.gov/news/house-bill-1638-removes-mmr-vaccine-exemption-schools-child-care-centers
