Christian UC: Vaccines

Colorado Immunization Requirements

(Updated December 1993)

Authority: Colo.Rev.Stat.Ann. && 25-4-901 to 909. 6 Colorado Code Regs. & 1009-2 (1993)

General Rule: Children may not attend any Colorado school unless the appropriate school official is presented with a certificate, from a doctor, representative from the department of health, or a local health department, stating that the child has received immunization against the listed communicable diseases in 6 CCR-1009-2. CRSA 25-4-902. Additionally, students attending any Colorado college or university must be fully immunized as well. CRSA 25-4-902.5 (Repealed, effective July 1, 1994.)

Exemptions: Children who enter school, but do not submit a certificate of immunization within 60 days will be suspended, until complying. CRSA 25-4-903(1). There are 3 exemptions CRSA 25-4-901(2)(a),(b):

1. If a certificate from a doctor is submitted that one or more immunizations would endanger the child’s life or health.

2. By submitting a signed statement that the child or parent “is an adherent to a religious belief whose teachings are opposed to immunizations or that the parent or guardian or the emancipated child has a personal belief that is opposed to immunizations.

When Exemptions Not Recognized: if there is a danger of epidemic from the listed communicable disease no exemption or exception will be recognized. “Quarantine by the state or local department of health is hereby authorized as a legal alternative to immunization.” CRSA 25-4-908.

Definitions:

School--means a public, private, or parochial nursery school, day care center, child care facility, family care home, head start program, kindergarten, or elementary or secondary school through grade twelve. CRSA 25-4-901.

Child—Any student less than 18 years of age CRSA 25-4-901.

Student—means any person enrolled ina Colorado school as defined in “School.” CRSA 25-4-901.

Limitations on Liability: CRSA 25-4-909:

1) The state of Colorado has found immunization vital to the health of its citizens.

2) Therefore there is no liability if:

Vaccine was administered using generally accepted clinical methods,

Vaccine was administered according to federal government’s CDCA schedule of immunization.

There was no clinical symptoms nor clinical history present under which prudent health care professionals would not have administered such vaccine.

3) Action for compensation for a vaccine-related injury or death must be exhausted under the terms of the “national Childhood Vaccine Injury Act of 1986.)

4) If the injury or death does not fall within the parameters of the injury table in the Act of 1986, a rebuttable presumption is established that it was not due to the vaccination, which shall be overcome by a preponderance of the evidence.

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