MS HB101

Allows local health officers to grant certificates of exemption from immunization requirements for children whose parents/guardians hold a bona fide belief that vaccines are inappropriate for their child, subject to specific documentation requirements.

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

Permits local health officers to deny exemption certificates after considering vaccination rates, community vulnerability to disease outbreaks, and disease prevalence in the jurisdiction, and to revoke certificates if circumstances change.

Establishes that children without immunization certificates or exemption certificates cannot attend school; children lacking required vaccinations must be excluded from school during communicable disease occurrences for the period necessary to protect public health.

Requires State Health Officer and local health officers to notify school superintendents of communicable disease threats requiring removal of unvaccinated children, with exemptions expiring annually and subject to renewal.