In the past five years, Texas has seen the number of students claiming conscientious, or non-medical exemptions, from vaccines grow by roughly 47 percent, or 16,284 students, according to a Department of State Health Services report.

This trend extends to the North Austin area as well, including Georgetown ISD, which has seen increases in this select student population over the past four academic years.

“I think in general, even when you look nationwide, the incident of exemptions is increasing,” said Jennifer Ashman-Porter, director of guidance and wellness for the district.

Conscientious exemptions can be claimed for any reason that is not related to medical records. A student’s parent or guardian must request an affidavit and submit it to the child’s school. If approved, the exemption is valid for two years.

Medical exemptions, in comparison, are valid for students whose health would be negatively impacted by the vaccine or who have family members whose health would be negatively impacted by the student being vaccinated. These exemptions are valid for one year.

According to GISD officials numbers for the 2016-17 school year show that 21 students claimed medical exemptions, and 170 were on conscientious waivers.

Texas is one of 16 states that allow medical, religious and philosophical exemptions from vaccines. The majority of states allow medical and religious exemptions, and Mississippi, California and West Virginia are the only states that just allow medical ones.

“The risks are there, [and] I think people are sometimes misled about the risk of not vaccinating their children,” Ashman-Porter said.

She also said GISD saw several cases of pertussis, or whooping cough, this year and that tuberculosis is not uncommon in Texas.

The state allows districts and schools to exclude students who are unvaccinated for conscientious reasons from school in times of emergency or epidemic as declared by the Texas commissioner of health.

This would include outbreaks of diseases, such as the mumps.