It's time to register your child for school, but you've decided that you do not want to take the risk of artificial immunizations. How do you legally bypass the forced vaccine agenda?

The State of Alaska offers two types of exemptions: medical or religious. I recommend pursuing the religious first, as it does not require the signature of a M.D. or D.O. Medical exemptions are useful for avoiding an individual type of vaccine, such as Hepatitis B. Your child or family must show a history of allergies, asthma or neurological complications. Allergies to eggs or other proteins are usually sufficient as decomposing proteins like eggs are often used to make vaccines. Medical exemptions can sometimes be reversed or required yearly by the school to monitor if your child's condition has changed.

If you choose to follow the religious exemption, you may not be able to pick and choose certain vaccines. Rather, you must state that you wish to forego all vaccines if you use this exemption. This exemption stems from the Supreme Court ruling in Shapiro v. Thompson, 394 U.S. 618. If a family's objection to immunization is due to a conscientiously and sincerely held religious belief, then they are entitled to an exemption. Formal church membership is not required as long as the family honestly believes and practices the tenets of a religious group. This means that you have the right to seek out any other outlook in addition to your own faith, including all denominations. One such religious group is Christian Science, whose bylaws state opposition to vaccination. This does not mean you have to join their church or claim to be a Christian Scientist, however.

According to Black's Medical Law Dictionary, your religion is your personal belief with God and has nothing to do with what church you go to. Therefore, if you feel that mandatory vaccinations that carry known risks including death and brain damage are against your religious beliefs and that God gave you your children to raise, you should have no problem using this exemption.

Readers may contact me or go to their local Health Department or school to get the required school exemption form. Alaska Administrative Code states, "I/We affirm that immunization is against the tenets and practices of the church or religious denomination of which the above child is a member." 4 AAC 06.055(b)(3).

If you have already given your child some shots and now choose to forego additional shots, you may tell school officials that you based your previous decision on misinformation and hence misinformed consent. You are now basing your decision on informed consent.

As mentioned in my former article (Jan/Feb issue of AKW), the CDC, FDA and vaccine manufacturers often do not know the risks involved because less than 10% of all adverse reactions are reported to these groups by doctors who are either afraid of being sued or do not recognize some children's symptoms as being vaccine related.

Simply put, your child cannot be forced into immunization because neither the school nor the Health Department can assume responsibility for your child's health. There are special rules sometimes for private schools that do not receive state funding. Parents of private school children may contact me for more information.

DO's and DON'Ts IF CONFRONTATION OCCURS

In many cases, school officials simply require that you sign an exemption form should you choose not to vaccinate your child. However, if this does not proceed smoothly and you feel you are being coerced, here are some basic guidelines:

• DO find out beforehand about the necessary requirements and exemptions.
• DO remain calm, confident and courteous if confronted about your beliefs.
• DO NOT become angry if school officials become defensive about the benefits of vaccinations. Some nurses, health workers and other officials may find it hard to understand why you would want an exemption as their formal education generally teaches them that vaccine risks are extremely rare.
• DO NOT take arrogant or condescending attitudes personally. Some individuals who are not fully informed about the potential harmful effects of vaccination may become rude rather than acknowledge their ignorance.
• DO NOT volunteer to stress at length why vaccines are wrong or harmful. Sharing information is fine, but forcing information on others or insisting that others see things your way only makes matters worse.
• DO NOT give in! Thank the officials if you aren't getting anywhere, leave and call me.

Dr. Robert Wheeler B.S., D.C., can be reached at Alaska Back Care Center (907) 349-4212 in Anchorage (formerly at Total Health) or at Wheeler Chiropractic Clinics (907) 694-0310 in Eagle River.