Vaccination policies in countries around the world are varied . While some countries focus on
educating their populace
about the benefits of vaccination while
leaving the choice to individuals, others offer
financial incentives or have made vaccinations mandatory to ensure high coverage rates.
Enforcement is another issue. Several countries with mandatory vaccination policies opt not to enforce them. And most everyone appears to agree that vaccination programs must allow for medical exemptions.
Every state in the United States requires children to be vaccinated before attending school, says Dr. Lance Rodewald, director of immunization services at the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia.
Most states allow for medical, religious and philosophical exemptions but Mississippi and West Virginia have taken their policy a step further and only allowed for medical exemptions.
In some states, parents can simply request exemptions, without having to provide a justification, while other states require a notarized signature on a statement indicating that the parents are aware that they are putting their child at risk.