Religious Exemption

Procedures for Religious Exemption

In order to qualify for a religious exemption from immunization requirements as specified by Section 2165 of the New York State Public Health Law, students 18 years or older must submit a statement that they hold religious beliefs contrary to the practice of immunization. For students under the age of 18, a similar statement must be submitted, signed by the student and by his/her parent or guardian. This statement must describe the beliefs in sufficient detail to permit the institution to determine that first, the beliefs are religious in nature (not philosophical), and in second, the beliefs are sincerely and genuinely held.

Please submit this statement to the Dean/Associate Dean of Student Services and to the Health Services office on your home campus. Your statement will be reviewed and you will be notified when a decision has been reached.

If you are granted a religious exemption, you should bring your health records to the Health Services Office on your home campus in order to document any previous immunizations, physician-verified diagnosis of measles or mumps disease, and/or positive titer results. Note that the titer is a blood test, which determines the level of immunity an individual may have to measles, mumps, or rubella, and may be used as an alternative to immunizations.

If an outbreak of measles, mumps or rubella should occur on campus, you will be considered susceptible under New York State Public Health Law and may be required to remain off campus until the Suffolk County Department of Health deems it safe for you to return. These absences may cause you to be withdrawn from your classes. Immunization records or titer results may fulfill the immunization requirements and prevent exclusion from the campus in the event of an outbreak.