According to
statistics released June 8 by the Texas Department of State Health Services, the number of students in San Marcos and Hays CISDs opting out of immunizations continues to rise both faster and higher than the state average.
SMCISD's conscientious exemption rate doubled for the second year in a row and exceeded the state average during the 2016-17 school year, a first for the district. Since 2014, the percentage of students excused from receiving immunizations has grown from 0.20 percent to 1.08 percent.
For HCISD, the district continues to have a conscientious exemption rate that doubles the state average, as it has for the past five years: 1.92 percent of students opted out of vaccinations in the 2016-17 school year.
The data is from the mandated Annual Survey of Immunization Status, in which more than 2,000 Texas schools self-report the number of conscientious exemption affidavit forms filed.
Despite virtually unanimous support from the medical community, some parents are still concerned about the safety of immunizing their children.
According to the DSHS, state law allows guardians to file for an exemption from immunizations for what is called reasons of conscience, which include religious beliefs. A student's legal guardian must request, sign and submit to the child's school an official DSHS affidavit form, which is then valid for two years.