Poll: Should It Be Harder to Exempt Your Kids from Vaccinations?

When Concord and Clayton public school students return to the classroom this fall, children going into kindergarten and the seventh grade will be required to show proof of various vaccinations. The same is true for students at private schools.

While school officials use phrases like "no shots, no school" to underscore the message, the reality is not so strict. 

Parents or guardians can obtain an exemption from vaccination requirements for medical reasons or personal beliefs.

To get a personal belief exemption (PBE) all a parent needs to do is sign an affidavit in front of a school secretary.

Below is a summary released by state officials of Concord and Clayton elementary schools and vaccination exemptions.

Ayers Elementary: This school has 71 children enrolled in kindergarten. Of those, 69 are up to date on vaccinations. Two are listed as conditional, which means they haven't yet received all the shots required. There are no exemptions listed.

Cambridge Elementary: This school has 140 kindergartners enrolled. Of those, 137 have all their shots. Three are listed as conditional. No exemptions listed.

El Monte Elementary: This school has 92 kindergartners. Of those, 80 are up to date on shots. There are 12 listed as conditional and no exemptions.

Highlands Elementary: This school has 98 kindergartners and all are up to date on shots.

Kings Valley Christian: This private school has 36 kindergartners. Of those, 34 have all the required shots while two are listed as conditional.

Meadow Homes Elementary: This school has 160 children in kindergarten and all are up to date on shots.

Monte Gardens Elementary: This school has 92 kindergartners. Of those, 88 have all their shots. Two are listed as conditional and there are two who have filed personal belief exemptions.

Mountain View Elementary: This school has 60 kindergartners. Of those, 57 are up to date on shots. One is listed as conditional and two have filed personal belief exemptions.

Mt. Diablo Elementary: This school in Clayton has 118 children in kindergarten. Of those, 116 are up to date on shots. One child is listed as conditional while one family has filed a personal belief exemption.

Queen of all Saints: This private school has 27 kindergartners, all of whom are up to date on their shots.

Saint Agnes: This private school has 36 kindergartners. Of those, 35 are up to date on shots. One family has filed a personal belief exemption.

Silverwood Elementary: This school has 66 kindergartners. Of those, 59 are up to date on shots. Three children are listed as conditional and four families have filed personal belief exemptions.

St. Frances of Assisi: This private school has 35 kindergartners. Of those, 30 are up to date on shot while three are listed as conditional. One family has filed a personal medical exemption and another family has filed a personal belief exemption.

Sun Terrace Elementary: This school has 122 kindergarten enrollees. Of those, 110 are up to date on shots. There are 12 listed as conditional and no exemptions.

Tabernacle Christian: This private school has 55 kindergartners. Of those, 54 are up to date on shots while one is listed as conditional.

Westwood Elementary: This school has 70 kindergartners. Of those, 66 are up to date on shots while four are listed as conditional.

Wood Rose Academy: This private school has 16 children in kindergarten. Of those, 12 are up to date on shots while four are listed as conditional.

Woodside Elementary: This school has 66 children in kindergarten. Of those, 65 are up to date on shots with one listed as conditional.

Wren Avenue Elementary: This school has 112 kindergartners. Of those, 110 are up to date on shots while two children are listed as conditional.

Ygnacio Valley Christian: This private school has 15 kindergartners. Of those, 11 are up to date on shots. One child is listed as conditional. One family has filed a medical exemption while two families have filed personal belief exemptions.

Ygnacio Valley Elementary: This school has 88 kindergartners. Of those, 84 have all the required shots. There are two listed as conditional and two others who have filed personal belief exemptions.

A bill in the state Legislature would make it tougher for parents to get a PBE by requiring an additional signature from a doctor or medical professional. Opponents of the proposed legislation argue that doctors tend to be dismissive of parental qualms about vaccinations.

Some public health professionals note the risk of not vaccinating a child is only acceptable when the vast majority of children are vaccinated and diseases like whooping cough are relatively rare. 

What do you think? Should it be more difficult to get exemptions for the vaccinations. Let us know in our poll.