MS HB86

Allows local health officers to grant exemption certificates for immunization if parents or guardians hold a bona fide belief that vaccination is inappropriate for their child.

Requires parents seeking exemption to provide physician documentation of counseling on vaccination risks and benefits, plus a signed personal statement explaining their belief and acknowledging the child may be removed from school during communicable disease outbreaks.

Permits local health officers to deny exemption certificates based on vaccination rates, community vulnerability to disease outbreaks, and disease prevalence in their jurisdiction.

Requires school administrators to exclude unvaccinated children from school during communicable disease occurrences or threats when directed by state or local health officers, for the period necessary to protect public health.

Exemption certificates expire after 12 months and may be revoked if circumstances change; the state health officer must provide school superintendents with annual registries of exempted children.