Parents Sue For Vaccination Exemption For Son

In Albany, New York, parents are suing to get their 5-year old son into elementary school, and are seeking $1 million in damages, claiming religious discrimination. Their son was refused admission to South Colonie School District's Saddlewood Elementary School on the grounds that he has not received routine immunizations. The child's mother is Catholic and father is Jewish. They say it is against their religious beliefs to permit their son to be vaccinated. New York law permits an exemption on religious grounds. However the state has refused them an exemption, saying their objection is personal and not religious. Their attorney says that the state is requiring the parents to belong to a church that forbids vaccination, and that this is imposing a religious test on them. The filing of the suit was covered today in the Albany Times Union and by WTEN News.