Illinois: Religious Vaccine Exemptions

What the Law Says

Illinois allows two types of vaccine exemptions:

Medical (doctor’s note saying the shot would harm the child)
Religious (parent objects based on religious belief)

👉 Illinois does not allow personal or philosophical exemptions.

The Illinois Certificate of Religious Exemption must be used for:

Preschool
Kindergarten
6th grade
9th grade
And for new enrollees at any grade

You can download the official state form here:

Illinois religious exemption form

Download the state-issued form Illinois schools must accept for religious exemptions.

religious-exemption-form-081815-040816.pdf

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How It Works (Anna’s Experience)

Anna, an Illinois mom, explains:

“I use a religious exemption. I mark what I’m declining, add a personal belief letter, and make sure both the school physical form and the exemption form are marked exempt and signed.

The doctor who does the physical has to sign, but the form clearly says their signature does not mean they agree with me — only that they explained their side and I understand this is my decision.

I then give the physical form, the exemption form, and my personal belief letter to the school. I’ve never received pushback from schools — but the hardest part for many parents is finding doctors willing to sign.”

Key Details Parents Need to Know

Doctor signature required — but it does not mean agreement. It only confirms they explained vaccine recommendations.
Personal belief letter required — state your religious grounds clearly. You can’t just write “I don’t want it.”
School has final say — they review and keep your exemption on file. They may exclude unvaccinated kids during outbreaks.
Timing — must be completed before school entry in K, 6th, 9th (and for new enrollments).

How to Write the Personal Belief Letter

Illinois requires that your exemption include a statement of religious belief that conflicts with vaccination. It does not need to come from an official church or denomination — it can be your own sincerely held belief.

Here are examples parents have successfully used:

Example 1 (Biblical / religious language, child-centered):

“Because of my faith, I believe that my child’s body is a temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Injecting vaccines, which contain foreign substances and are derived in some cases from aborted fetal cell lines, violates my conscience and my religious duty to keep my child’s body pure.”

Example 2 (moral / ethical conviction, child-centered):

“I hold a sincere moral conviction, equivalent to a religious belief, that I must not consent to vaccines for my child. Introducing these products into my child’s body conflicts with my conscience and my ethical obligation to protect their health and integrity.”

Example 3 (general faith statement, child-centered):

“My sincere religious beliefs direct me to rely on natural health practices and to avoid vaccines, which I believe interfere with God’s design for my child’s immune system. Requiring vaccination would force me to violate my religious convictions for my child.”

Tips for writing your letter:

Keep it sincere, respectful, and focused on belief — not science or safety debates.
State that your belief is deeply held and directs your choices as a parent.
Don’t apologize or hedge. Confidence matters.

Tony’s Streetwise Tip

“Docs love to pull the power play during the physical. They’ll try to rush you, corner you, make you fold.

Here’s how you flip it:

Sit quiet during the physical. Don’t say a word about vaccines until it’s over. Then pull out the exemption form — on a clipboard — with the signature line clearly marked.

Hand it to the doc and say:
‘Now explain to me why vaccines are so important — and then sign this paper for the school confirming you explained it.’

That’s it. You don’t argue. You don’t beg. You put it in front of him and let him squirm.

And if he still won’t sign? Fine. No signature, no payment. Walk out.”