Over 80 percent of the 920 Massachusetts kindergartners excused from vaccines last year had religious exemptions. To obtain a religious exemption, parents must state in writing that vaccination violates their religious beliefs.
More religious exemptions have meant a heightened risk for immuno-compromised students, who are more vulnerable to infectious diseases, WGBH reports.
The Massachusetts legislature is currently challenging the religious exemption, but the proposed bill is unlikely to come to a vote before the next school year begins.
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