The Case for Vaccine Exemptions in Vermont -> Part 3

The Case for Vaccine Exemptions in Vermont -> Part 3

In 2015, Vermont eliminated its philosophical vaccine exemption, citing concerns about public health and the protection of vulnerable populations, particularly immunocompromised children. On the surface, the argument seemed reasonable. But over the years, deeper scrutiny has revealed inconsistencies and contradictions in the state’s public health policies that undermine the rationale for this decision.

Unvaccinated students became an easy scapegoat, while significant risks from unvaccinated foreign nationals entering Vermont were ignored. The state’s enforcement of strict mandates on its residents, combined with its active efforts to defend unvaccinated foreign nationals from federal scrutiny, highlights a troubling double standard. When examined alongside the larger questions about vaccine components, parental rights, and the philosophical and religious objections that were dismissed, the foundation of Vermont’s policy begins to crumble.

Parental Rights Under Attack

Vermont has a long history of balancing public health with individual freedoms. For over 40 years, philosophical and religious exemptions allowed parents to make informed decisions about their children’s health while maintaining high vaccination rates. Yet, the removal of the philosophical exemption in 2015 marked a turning point, framing personal choice as a public health threat despite the lack of supporting evidence.

The current push to eliminate the religious exemption extends this trend, targeting a fundamental right that reflects Vermont’s core values. Religious exemptions protect families whose beliefs conflict with vaccine mandates, ensuring that public health policies do not infringe on individual freedoms. Eliminating this exemption not only erodes parental rights but sets a dangerous precedent for government overreach.

Why Exemptions Matter

Exemptions are not a loophole—they are a safeguard. They ensure that public health policies respect diversity and foster trust between families and the state. Vermont’s robust public health infrastructure has proven that exemptions and high vaccination rates can coexist without compromising community health. Mandating vaccines for all children assumes that the risks of disease outweigh the risks of coercion, but Vermont’s record shows otherwise.

Unvaccinated Students: A Convenient Scapegoat

Among Vermont’s 74,449 K-12 students, an estimated 3,700 to 5,000 are unvaccinated due to religious or medical exemptions. These students are often portrayed as a primary threat to the 200 to 400 immunocompromised children who rely on herd immunity. However, diseases like measles, rubella, and mumps—declared eliminated in the United States decades ago—do not circulate naturally in Vermont. Cases that do appear are reintroduced from external sources, such as international travelers or migrant workers from regions where these diseases remain endemic.

Despite this, there is no comprehensive data quantifying how often, or if, Vermont’s unvaccinated students are responsible for disease transmission. The CDC acknowledges that immunocompromised individuals are more vulnerable to severe outcomes, but Vermont’s consistently high vaccination rates already provide herd immunity thresholds for most diseases. Without evidence linking unvaccinated students to public health crises, the removal of philosophical exemptions remains speculative at best.

Where the Diseases Actually Come From

Vaccine-preventable diseases, with the exception of tetanus, are not environmental threats—they require person-to-person transmission and must be introduced by someone already infected.

DiseaseTransmission MethodExists in Vermont?Reservoir
MeaslesPerson-to-person (respiratory)No, relies on imported casesHumans only
MumpsPerson-to-person (saliva, droplets)No, relies on imported casesHumans only
RubellaPerson-to-person (respiratory)No, relies on imported casesHumans only
DiphtheriaPerson-to-person (respiratory, wounds)No, eradicated in the U.S.Humans only
PertussisPerson-to-person (respiratory)Rare, sometimes resurgingHumans only
TetanusEnvironmental (soil, wounds)Yes, environmental threatSoil and animal feces

Outbreaks of measles or rubella in Vermont occur only when these diseases are reintroduced from regions where they remain endemic. The focus on Vermont’s unvaccinated students ignores the reality that these diseases are not originating from within the state.

Ignoring the Imported Risk

While Vermont enforces strict vaccine mandates on its residents, it turns a blind eye to the unvaccinated foreign nationals entering the state. The federal government does not require proof of routine vaccinations for temporary workers entering the U.S. on H-2A or H-2B visas, which are widely used by Vermont’s agricultural industry. Vermont employs approximately 1,600 migrant workers annually, many of whom come from Central and South America, where vaccine-preventable diseases like measles, rubella, and pertussis remain endemic.

State officials actively shield undocumented immigrants from federal scrutiny, aligning with Vermont’s sanctuary policies. Yet, there is no infrastructure to ensure these populations meet the same vaccination standards imposed on Vermont families. This oversight is not about race or bias—it’s about public health consistency. Foreign nationals entering the state are given the benefit of voluntary vaccination programs, but compliance is neither enforced nor required.

Compounding this issue, Vermont also welcomes millions of tourists annually, many from regions with less stringent vaccination standards. These individuals face no vaccination requirements to enter the state, creating another unregulated avenue for the reintroduction of diseases.

Attendance Policies: Undermining Public Health

Vermont’s school attendance policies further illustrate the contradictions in its public health approach. The CDC recommends that symptomatic children stay home to prevent the spread of disease, but Vermont’s attendance rules often prioritize daily attendance over health.

While school funding is determined by Average Daily Membership (ADM) rather than daily attendance, districts continue to encourage “butts in seats,” pressuring families to send children back to school prematurely. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vermont aligned attendance policies with CDC recommendations, but those changes were short-lived. The state has since reverted to pre-pandemic practices, prioritizing attendance metrics over health and safety.

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A Double Standard and a Dismissed Perspective

The most glaring contradiction is Vermont’s willingness to defend foreign nationals against federal enforcement while holding its own residents to stricter standards. Philosophical and religious objections to vaccines were summarily dismissed, despite the deeply held beliefs of many families. Are those beliefs any less real than the susceptibility of an immunocompromised individual to a communicable disease?

Consider the broader issues raised in Part 1 and Part 2 of this series:

  • Vermont consistently achieved 92–95% vaccination rates, well above the herd immunity threshold for most diseases.
  • Concerns about vaccine adjuvants, aborted fetal tissue in production, and distrust in pharmaceutical transparency provide legitimate grounds for philosophical objections.
  • Parental rights, dismissed as secondary, remain a cornerstone of the debate, as families feel increasingly alienated from decisions affecting their children.

If Vermont’s goal is to protect vulnerable populations, why are philosophical and religious beliefs dismissed as unworthy of consideration? For many, these beliefs are as integral to their lives as medical vulnerabilities are to others.

A Call for Data and Consistency

If Vermont is serious about protecting public health, it must address these glaring contradictions:

  • Quantify the Risks: Conduct research to measure how often unvaccinated students spread disease compared to unvaccinated foreign nationals or visitors.
  • Reform Attendance Policies: Align statewide attendance policies with CDC guidelines to prioritize health over metrics.
  • Mandate Vaccinations for All: Apply vaccination requirements uniformly, regardless of immigration or residency status.

Conclusion

The three parts of this series highlight a troubling reality: Vermont’s vaccine exemption policies are riddled with contradictions. The state eliminated philosophical exemptions based on unsubstantiated fears while disregarding significant risks posed by unvaccinated foreign nationals. It overlooked valid parental concerns about vaccine ingredients, transparency, and autonomy, dismissing them as secondary to an inconsistent and selective public health strategy.

If Vermont genuinely seeks to protect its vulnerable populations, it must adopt consistent, data-driven policies that address all sources of risk while respecting the deeply held beliefs of its residents. Anything less is not only inequitable—it is a disservice to public trust and genuine public health.

The time has come for Vermont to reconcile its contradictions and embrace fairness, transparency, and inclusivity in its approach to vaccine policies.

Dave Soulia | FYIVT

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