Innoculatin Exemption Rights Expanded
(c) Health Science, Sept/Oct '97

People occaisionally contact ANHS regarding inoculation exemption.  But
since ANHS is neither a medical nor a reigious organization, the help we
can provide is limited.  Howver, Attorney James R. Filenbaum recently
reported that the right to claim an exemption from immunizations for
school age and college students has been expanded.

According to Attorney Filenbaum, "the laws which allow for 'religious
exemptions' now can interpreted so broadly that the opportunity to avoid
immunizations is now legally available to almost anyone who either
believes in God or something that is equivalent to God."

Mr. Filenbaum states that "based on recent Federal Court decisions,
religious exemptions are available to those people who have personal
religious beliefs against immunizations, and they need not be members of
any particular organized religion.  Also, the right to claim a religious
exemption is available to those who are members of traditional religious
groups but have their own understanding of what is required of them as a
membert of that religious gorup."

Mr. Filenbaum has won many cases for people who have sought an exemption
from immunization for their children and, accordingly, he is now able to
help people get an exemption without having to go to Court.  He
describes the process as follows:

"When people contact my office, we are able to prepare a document for
them that qualifies for the religious exemption based upon their sincere
and genuine religious beliefs.  These beliefs don't even have to have a
name.  Howver, they must be religious and not philosophical, moral or
beliefs based upon lifestyle choice.  Usually, everyone that contacts
our office who has a belief in God will qualify for an opportunity to
state their claim in a manner that complies with the law."

Mr. Filenbaum can be reached at his office at Two Executive Blvd., Suite
201, Suffern, NY 10901, or by calling his new toll-free "Immunization
Hot Line" at (888) 746-8766.