Want an Exemption for Your Kids? Here’s How to Request One!

Parents. Call. The. Shots. 

With back-to-school just around the corner, the most important thing you can do as a parent is  make sure the vaccination decisions you make for your child are heard and respected. Despite the “No Shots! No School! It’s the law!” campaigns coming from your daycare and school district, Texas students are not, in fact, required to be up to date on all of their shots.

Parents. Call. The. Shots.

With back-to-school just around the corner, the most important thing you can do as a parent is make sure the vaccination decisions you make for your child are heard and respected. Despite the “No Shots! No School! It’s the law!” campaigns coming from your daycare and school district, Texas students are not, in fact, required to be up to date on all of their shots.

Whether your kids are in preschool, elementary/secondary school, or college, they can be exempt from vaccination recommendations.

In 2003, the Texas legislature expanded the reasons for vaccination exemptions, allowing for both medical and conscientious (including religious) objections. The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) outlines specific procedures for requesting these exemptions.

Here are the Steps to Obtain Vaccine Exemption Forms:

1. Requesting Forms:

• Online: Visit the DSHS Immunization Branch website
• Mail: Send a written request to DSHS Immunization Branch, Mail Code 1946, P.O. Box 149347, Austin, TX 78714-9347
• Fax: Send a request to (512) 776-7544
• In-Person: Hand-deliver your request to 1100 West 49th Street, Austin, TX 78756

1. Information Needed:

• Full name and date of birth for each child
• Parent or legal guardian’s return mailing address
• Number of forms needed (up to five per child per request)

After Receiving the Exemption Forms

1. Notarize: Do not sign the affidavit until in front of a notary. Click HERE for a sample affidavit to take to your notary.
2. Submit: Turn in the notarized form to the school within 90 days. The form is valid for two years.

Provisional Enrollment and Other Considerations

Provisional enrollment allows temporary admission under certain conditions, such as being homeless, in foster care, or transferring from another Texas school.

Texas Law on Vaccine Exemptions

All of the following facilities are required to accept both medical exemptions and the Texas Exemption Affidavit for enrollment:
Licensed childcare facilities and preschools
K-12 public and charter schools
K-12 private schools that accept any state funding
Higher education programs, regardless of funding

Addressing Non-Compliance

If a listed facility denies your student’s exemption forms, please let TFVC know by filling out the appropriate form on this webpage.

Texans for Vaccine Choice continues to advocate for the rights of parents to make informed decisions about their children’s health without facing discrimination or barriers to education.

By following these steps, parents can ensure their children’s vaccination choices are acknowledged and respected as the new school year approaches.

For more detailed guidance and to request exemption forms, visit TFVC’s Exemption FAQ page here: https://texansforvaccinechoice.com/exemptions/