NEW YORK RELIGIOUS EXEMPTION GUIDE

What New York parents must know — and what you can actually do instead.

THE TRUTH UP FRONT

New York does not offer religious exemptions.
New York does not offer philosophical exemptions.
Medical exemptions exist but are extremely hard to obtain.

Schools in New York are legally required to enforce compliance with the vaccines that New York State requires, administered according to the ACIP-recommended doses and timing for those vaccines.

And this distinction matters:

“Full ACIP compliance” does NOT mean the full CDC schedule.

It means the ACIP-recommended schedule for the specific vaccines NY mandates for school entry.

New York does not require every vaccine on the CDC list.

This alone gives parents more strategic room than most realize.

This comes directly from the New York Department of Health immunization requirements.

1. WHAT NEW YORK ACTUALLY REQUIRES

Plain-language version:

To attend school in New York, your child must receive the ACIP-recommended doses of NY-required vaccines.

New York accepts:

• Proof of required vaccinations
• Proof of past disease (for a few diseases only)
• A narrow medical exemption

NY-required vaccines include:
(Summarized from the NY DOH chart)

• DTaP / Tdap
• Polio
• MMR
• Varicella
• Hepatitis B
• MenACWY (grades 7–12)
• Hib & PCV (Pre-K)

NY does NOT require:

• Rotavirus
• Hepatitis A
• HPV
• Influenza
• COVID
• Several others on the CDC list

Again:
Doctors will pressure for the full CDC schedule — but New York law does NOT require it.
This matters, and we make it clear later in the Guide.

2. WHY NEW YORK REMOVED RELIGIOUS EXEMPTIONS

In 2019, New York eliminated all non-medical exemptions following measles outbreaks.

But something significant has changed nationally:

ACIP just reversed the HepB birth dose recommendation for infants of HepB-negative mothers.

This proves:

• The schedule is not fixed
• The schedule can and does change
• Parents who question timing are not unreasonable

New York’s legal environment is strict, but the national landscape is shifting under it.

3. YOUR REAL OPTIONS IN NEW YORK

Even without exemptions, parents have legal, strategic pathways most doctors and schools never mention.

Here are the four major strategies.

OPTION 1 — Delay Strategically (Two Powerful Methods)

DELAY STRATEGY A: “In Process” Using ACIP Catch-up

New York law allows children to attend school if they are:

“…in the process of receiving required immunizations according to the ACIP catch-up schedule.”

This gives parents lawful control over:

• pacing
• spacing
• timing
• number of shots per visit
• sequencing
• use (or refusal) of combination vaccines

You stay compliant without rushing.

Tony puts it this way:

“They want you scared of the clock.
Control the pace — that’s where your power is.”

This is the backbone strategy for NY parents who want to avoid multi-shot pressure while staying within the law.

DELAY STRATEGY B: Age-Out Strategy

Some vaccines have maximum ages, after which they cannot legally be given.

If your child ages out, the requirement disappears permanently.

Examples:

• Rotavirus:
  • Cannot be started after 14 weeks
  • Cannot be given after 8 months
• HIB: Not required after age 5
• PCV: Not required after age 5 for healthy children
• DTaP:
  • Not used after age 7
  • Requirements shift to Tdap rules instead

And this creates a major advantage:

If your child enters school at age 7 or later, several early-childhood vaccine requirements vanish.

That’s why many NY families temporarily use:

• homeschooling
• umbrella schools
• micro-schools
• online private schools

until age 6–7.

This is completely legal — and highly effective.

OPTION 2 — Alternative Schooling Pathways

Thousands of NY families choose:

• Homeschooling
• Umbrella schools
• Online private schools
• Out-of-state private programs
• Micro-schools / pods

Many do this for:

• Pre-K
• Kindergarten only
• K–2
• Until age 7

This reduces the total number of required vaccines dramatically.

OPTION 3 — School Transfer Strategies

Not all schools enforce with the same intensity.

Transfers can give families breathing room because:

• some districts interpret “in process” differently
• mid-year transfers create new paperwork windows
• grade-entry transitions shift vaccine requirements
• private schools sometimes have different internal workflows

This is not a loophole. It is simply how the NY system functions.

DOCTORS WILL PRESSURE FOR THE FULL CDC SCHEDULE — HERE’S HOW TO HANDLE IT

Most NY parents never hear the truth:

Your doctor may insist your child “must” get every CDC-recommended vaccine — even when New York law does not require them.

A doctor’s preference does not override state law.

This is why many parents print the NY immunization requirements and bring them to the appointment.

A calm, clear line is often enough:

Parent:
“New York only requires the ACIP schedule for state-required vaccines.
This is what we are following.”

If the doctor keeps pushing:

Parent:
“We are complying with New York law.
You do not have the authority to add requirements the state does not mandate.”

Tony sums it up:

“Doc’s got opinions. NY’s got law.
One of those wins — and it ain’t the white coat.”

WHEN DOCTORS THREATEN TO DISMISS YOU

This happens in New York more than in most states.

If a doctor says,
“Maybe this practice isn’t the right fit,”
or
“If you don’t follow the CDC schedule, we’ll have to let you go,”
use this line:

Parent:
“Doctor, I am following New York state immunization law.
Are you dismissing us for complying with state requirements?”

This puts the burden back where it belongs.

If they double down:

Parent:
“Before you proceed, I need this documented in the chart:
‘I dismissed this family while they were following New York immunization law.’
Please confirm that’s what you intend to write.”

Doctors almost never want this in writing.

But if they really do dismiss you, say:

Parent:
“Thank you. Before we leave, I need a full copy of my child’s medical records and the dismissal reason in writing.”

You are legally entitled to the records.
Get them before you walk out.

Tony’s take:

“They didn’t kick you out — they freed you.”

⭐ Vaccine-Choice Friendly Doctors in New York

A vaccine-choice friendly doctor can be a valuable ally — someone who listens, respects your pacing decisions, and doesn’t use pressure or fear to force the full CDC schedule.

But it’s important to be clear:

Even the best vaccine-choice friendly doctor cannot change New York’s requirements, create an exemption, or help you avoid laws the state enforces.

What they can do is help you:

• follow the ACIP catch-up schedule at a sane, parent-controlled pace
• document decisions calmly and correctly
• reduce pressure during appointments
• avoid confrontation and dismissal
• keep your child’s chart clean and accurate

If you need a doctor who respects your role as the decision-maker, start here:

👉 Find a vaccine-choice friendly doctor in New York

Tony’s take:

“A good doc won’t fight the state for you — but he won’t fight you either.
Get one who knows the difference.”

4. SCRIPTS & SCENARIOS

Scenario: Doctor assumes full compliance

Parent:
“We’re following the ACIP catch-up schedule using the longest safe intervals.
Can we review timing options before deciding on today’s doses?”

Scenario: Doctor applies fear or guilt

Parent:
“I’m making decisions without pressure.
We’re spacing doses according to the ACIP catch-up schedule.”

Scenario: School nurse says “No shots, no school.”

Parent:
“We will remain ‘in process’ per ACIP guidelines.
Which documentation do you need to note that?”

Scenario: Considering homeschool

Parent:
“I want to follow NYSED guidelines correctly.
Where can I find the official instructions for filing my IHIP?”

5. WHAT ACIP’S HEPB CHANGE MEANS FOR NY PARENTS

The HepB birth dose reversal proves:

• long-standing recommendations can fall
• national guidance is shifting
• thoughtful timing is reasonable

This strengthens every NY parent’s position.

6. THE 80/20 STRATEGY FOR NEW YORK PARENTS

1. Know the law.

So no one can intimidate you.

2. Use both delay strategies.

Catch-up pacing + age-out timing.

3. Document everything.

4. Choose alternative schooling if needed.

5. Plan strategically around key ages (5, 7, adolescence).

This is how NY parents regain control.

7. TONY’S FINAL WORD

“New York ain’t unbeatable.
They just bank on you walking in scared.
You got options.
You got leverage.
Use ’em.”

8. YOUR NEXT STEP

If this Guide helped you, wait until you get what we send next.

Every day, parents in NY and across the country get intel that makes them calmer, clearer, and harder to push around.

You should have it too.