Parents challenging school exclusion policies for unvaccinated

While vaccinations are required in every state in the U.S. as a condition of public school or day-care attendance, all allow for exemptions in certain circumstances, namely medical, religious, or philosophical reasons (or a combination thereof, depending on the state). However, most states warn that those exempted from vaccinations may be prohibited from attending school in the event of an outbreak. With the current mumps epidemic in the Midwest, this policy is being tested, with mixed results...

• In Kansas, 15-year old David Brockway was not permitted to attend school for 12 days after another student contracted mumps. Brockway's father, who had acquired a religious exemption for his son and signed a form acknowledging suspensions such as this were possible, protested the action to the school board and won, according to the Wichita Eagle. The compromise: Brockway's father had to sign a 'waiver' specific to mumps, calling into question whether the motivation for the school board's actions is a concern over public health and limiting the transmission of the virus or merely insulating itself against potential liability. Since it's acknowledged that those vaccinated are not 100% protected against mumps, the school board may have actually put themselves at greater legal risk, if other students get mumps as a result of Brockway being an ideal vector for transmission.

• In Edwardsville, MO, two students were escorted from school by police when they attempted to attend classes despite being prohibited from school because of not being vaccinated for mumps, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports. One parent is reportedly meeting with a lawyer over the matter.